glaucoma (glaw-ko'mah)

A disease of the eye characterized by increased intraocular tension or hardne of the eyeball, a ociated in varying degree with dilatation and irregularity of the pupil, sluggish or immovable iris, hazine and anesthesia of the cornea, pre ure on the anterior chamber, cupping of the optic disk, pulsation of the ve els and contraction of the visual field on the nasal side. If untreated the disease ends in blindne . absolute g. That condition of the eyeball in which all vision is lost from the effects of glaucomatous disease and in which it cannot be restored by any operative procedures, acute g., acute inflammatory g. G. characterized by marked inflammatory symptoms, exce ive pain in the head and eyes, fever, and vomiting, in addition to the usual symptoms of the disease, inflammatory g. See acute inflammatory g. mechanical g. G. dependent upon mechanical causes. primary g. G. that appears in an eye which is apparently healthy or is subject to disease that has no influence in producing g. [Gr., glaukoma, from glaukos, sea-green.]