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Angle on Glaucoma: Types
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Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is a chronic, but progressive disease. It is the most common type of glaucoma in both African Americans and Caucasians. It is usually diagnosed bilaterally in adults with its incidence increasing with age. POAG usually has no noticeable symptoms to the patient; therefore, it is left undetected causing irreversible optic nerve damage and visual field loss.

Patients with POAG will most often present with optic nerve cupping, defects of the nerve fiber layer, and a visual field loss. Persons with POAG will have intraocular pressures (IOP) over 21 mmHg which have resulted from a decreased outflow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye. The exact reason is not well understood, but could be due to changes in the anterior chamber angle, the iris, and/or the ciliary body as one ages.

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URL: http://www.opt.indiana.edu/clinics/pteduc/glaucoma/types/poag.htm
Revised: August 2, 2002
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Page design and coding: Terri Greene
Copyright © 2002, The Trustees of Indiana University