glaucoma

American  

[glaw-koh-muh, glou-] / glɔˈkoʊ mə, glaʊ- /

noun

1. Ophthalmology. abnormally high fluid pressure in the eye, most commonly caused either by blockage of the channel through which aqueous humor drains open-angle glaucoma, or chronic glaucoma or by pressure of the iris against the lens, which traps the aqueous humor angle-closure glaucoma, or acute glaucoma.

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glaucoma British  

/ ɡlɔːˈkəʊmə /

noun

1. a disease of the eye in which pressure within the eyeball damages the optic disc, impairing vision, sometimes progressing to blindness

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glaucoma Scientific  

/ glou-kō′mə,glô- /

1. A disease of the eye in which the pressure of fluid inside the eyeball is abnormally high, caused by obstructed outflow of the fluid. The increased pressure can damage the optic nerve and lead to partial or complete loss of vision.

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glaucoma Cultural  

1. A disease of the eye marked by increased fluid pressure in the eyeball. Glaucoma can damage the optic nerve and may result in blindness if not treated. Surgery may be required for severe cases.

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Other Word Forms

• glaucomatous adjective

Etymology

Origin of glaucoma

First recorded in 1635–45; Latin glaucōma, from Greek glaúkōma “opacity of the eye lens, cataract”; glauco-, -oma (cataracts and glaucoma were not clearly distinguished until the early 18th century)

Example Sentences

The study shows that petrolatum-based eye ointments can cause a popular glaucoma implant to swell and, in some cases, rupture.

From Science Daily

Pat Notaro, 91, of Webster, N.Y., takes eight medicines each day to treat her glaucoma, high blood pressure and other health conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal

But after losing his sight due to glaucoma at six-years-old, he was told that a career in agriculture was an impossibility.

From BBC

But myopia also increases the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment and other eye diseases later in life.

From The Wall Street Journal

That includes Joseph Morris, 61, who takes three blood-pressure medications and recently learned he has glaucoma.

From MarketWatch