A 60-year-old woman visits the ophthalmologist because of eye pain. Tests show that her right eye has an intraocular pressure of 22 mm Hg and her left eye has an intraocular pressure of 25 mm Hg. Which of the following is the most likely cause of eye pain in this woman?
This woman has open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common type of glaucoma. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide after cataracts. Blindness occurs because of damage to the optic nerve. The high intraocular pressure causes blood vessels and axons of the optic nerve to be compressed at the optic disc, which leads to poor nutrition with possible death of the neurons. The main cause of open-angle glaucoma is reduced flow of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork because of tissue debris, white blood cells, deposition of fibrous material, and other factors that increase the hydraulic resistance of the meshwork
Decreased hydraulic resistance of trabecular meshwork
Decreased production of aqueous humor
Increased hydraulic resistance of trabecular meshwork
Increased production of aqueous humor
Special Senses