glaucoma

/glɔ:'koumə/

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Word: Glaucoma

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve, which is important for vision. This damage can lead to problems with sight and, in some cases, can progress to blindness. It is often mistakenly thought that glaucoma is always caused by high pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure), but this is not always true.

Usage Instructions

• Use "glaucoma" when talking about eye health or medical conditions related to vision.
• It’s often used in medical contexts or discussions about health.

Example Sentences

1. "My grandmother has glaucoma, and she needs to see an eye doctor regularly."
2. "Early detection of glaucoma is crucial to prevent vision loss."

Advanced Usage

In medical contexts, you might encounter phrases like: - "Open-angle glaucoma" - a common type of glaucoma where the eye's drainage system is only partially blocked. - "Angle-closure glaucoma" - a less common type that occurs when the iris is too close to the drainage angle in the eye.

Word Variants

• Glaucomatous (adjective): Relating to or affected by glaucoma.
  • Example: "She was diagnosed with glaucomatous damage to her optic nerve."

Different Meanings

While "glaucoma" primarily refers to the eye condition, in some contexts, it might be used metaphorically to describe something that is slowly damaging or obscuring clarity in a different area, such as understanding or insight. However, this is rare.

Synonyms

• There are very few direct synonyms for "glaucoma," but related terms in the context of eye diseases might include:
  • "Optic nerve damage"
  • "Vision impairment"

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "glaucoma." However, you might hear phrases like: - "Keep an eye on" (to monitor something closely), which indirectly relates to eye health.

Summary

Glaucoma is a serious eye disease that can lead to vision loss. Regular check-ups with an eye doctor are important, especially for those at risk.

Academic

Noun

1. an eye disease that damages the optic nerve and impairs vision (sometimes progressing to blindness)
   • contrary to popular belief, glaucoma is not always caused by elevated intraocular pressure