What should I do if diabetic complications cause blindness from glaucoma?

Written by Gan Jun
Endocrinology
Updated on March 10, 2025
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For neovascular glaucoma caused by diabetes, anti-neovascular drugs can be injected into the vitreous cavity to cause the regression of new blood vessels, thereby achieving the goal of reducing intraocular pressure. If not treated promptly, it can cause permanent closure or adhesion of the angle, and surgery is required for treatment. If the lens swells causing secondary glaucoma, it will lead to the closure of the angle. Surgery is needed to remove the cloudy, swollen lens to achieve a reduction in intraocular pressure. Diabetes is prone to various complications, and it is crucial to pay attention to diet and exercise in the presence of diabetes; meanwhile, it is essential to control medication to maintain blood sugar within the ideal fluctuation range.

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Written by Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
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Can children have glaucoma?

Children can develop glaucoma. Congenital glaucoma typically presents within the first year of life and is more common in boys. The disease onset before the age of two to three years leads to increased eye pressure, which results in the enlargement of the eyeball. This manifests as photophobia, tearing, and eyelid spasms. Once diagnosed, early surgical treatment is recommended. For children under three years old, the preferred surgical procedures are trabeculectomy or goniotomy. As children are in a developmental stage and have poorer overall tolerance, anti-glaucoma medications are only suitable for short-term bridging treatment.

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Written by Zheng Xin
Ophthalmology
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Does glaucoma require surgery?

There are many types of glaucoma, such as primary angle-closure glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, and normal-tension glaucoma. Once glaucoma is definitively diagnosed, medication can be used first to control intraocular pressure. If medications cannot control the pressure, surgery may be considered. However, generally, if it is early stage, and there is no damage to vision or visual field, with not very high intraocular pressure, medication can be considered first. If the intraocular pressure remains very high, medication fails to stabilize it, and there is a decline in vision or damage to the visual field, then surgery is needed.

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Written by Hu Shu Fang
Ophthalmology
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Can glaucoma be contagious?

Glaucoma is not contagious. It is not an infectious disease; rather, it is a group of diseases characterized by increased eye pressure, leading to optic nerve atrophy and vision decline. The most common cause is genetic factors, meaning if elders or parents in the family have this condition, the incidence of glaucoma in their offspring will also be higher. It is an eye disease caused by anatomical abnormalities of the eye. Additionally, some cases of glaucoma are caused by trauma or other reasons, so glaucoma is not contagious.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
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The difference between open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma

Primary angle-closure glaucoma is a type of glaucoma caused by the peripheral iris blocking the trabecular meshwork, or permanently adhering to the trabecular meshwork, obstructing the outflow of aqueous humor, leading to increased intraocular pressure. It is characterized by a narrow angle and the anatomical feature of the peripheral iris being prone to contact with the trabecular meshwork. Gonioscopy confirming angle closure is an important diagnostic criterion. The characteristic of open-angle glaucoma, however, is that even though intraocular pressure is elevated, the angle remains open, with the obstruction of aqueous outflow occurring at the trabecular meshwork system.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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How to rule out glaucoma with high eye pressure?

Normal intraocular pressure ranges from 10-21mmHg. If it exceeds 21mmHg, it is considered to be increased intraocular pressure. Main symptoms of high intraocular pressure include eye distension, eye pain, tearing, photophobia, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, headache, etc. High intraocular pressure is a primary diagnostic criterion for glaucoma, but it is not the only standard. Glaucoma can be divided into primary glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, and mixed glaucoma. Primary glaucoma can further be subdivided into open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. Only during an acute attack of angle-closure glaucoma does the intraocular pressure increase, whereas open-angle glaucoma generally does not affect intraocular pressure. Therefore, the diagnosis of glaucoma mainly relies on a comprehensive assessment of the angle of the anterior chamber, intraocular pressure, visual field, visual acuity, and the condition of the optic disc.