Glaucoma

Acquired cataract - Glaucoma Factor

RMA definition

"Glaucoma" means open-angle glaucoma or angle-closure glaucoma.

General information

Glaucoma is a disorder characterised by increased intraocular pressure (the pressure of the fluid within the eyeball) that may cause impaired vision ranging from slight loss to complete blindness.  Glaucoma may be detected in response to a complaint of symptoms or it may be detected incidentally during an eye examination for another purpose.  However, prior to about 1960 it is doubtful whether routine testing for glaucoma would have been done during testing of eyesight, unless the testing was being done by an ophthalmologist.  After about 1960 the Schiotz tonometer was used to routinely test for glaucoma, and in about 1972, the current "puff of air" test was introduced.  Glaucoma can be classed as primary or secondary.

Primary glaucoma can be of two types:

Open-angle glaucoma (also called chronic simple glaucoma)- this is the most common form of glaucoma and occurs predominantly in people over 50 years of age.  Symptoms are blurring of vision, frequent change of glasses, or occasional headaches.

Angle-closure glaucoma (also called congestive glaucoma)- this type of glaucoma usually occurs in the fifth and sixth decades and is more common in females.  It is occasionally found in young adults.  Symptoms may include severe head and eye ache, blurred vision, halos around lights, general malaise, nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Congenital, or infantile glaucoma is also a type of primary glaucoma.

Secondary glaucoma follows some pre-existing disease of the eye.

Diagram of the eye

Last reviewed for CCPS 20 August 2008.

Preliminary questions [11800]

11917 there is some evidence that glaucoma may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

11819  the veteran has had a type of glaucoma at some time.

12482 the veteran has had angle-closure glaucoma at some time.

or

12483 the veteran has had open-angle glaucoma at some time.

11820 the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma, affected side and site of the body.

11821  the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, and VEA service for acquired cataract.

11828 the veteran had the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

11822   the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, and VEA service for the clinical onset of acquired cataract.

11824  the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, and operational service for the clinical onset of acquired cataract.

or

11825  the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, and eligible service for the clinical onset of acquired cataract.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

11829 the veteran had the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

11823   the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, and VEA service for the clinical worsening of acquired cataract.

11826  the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, and operational service for the clinical worsening of acquired cataract.

or

11827  the veteran has established the causal connection between the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, and eligible service for the clinical worsening of acquired cataract.

Clinical onset and operational service [11824]

11830  the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [11825]

11831  the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [11826]

11830  the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, is causally related to operational service.

30773 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [11827]

11831  the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, is causally related to eligible service.

30774 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury, a type of glaucoma affecting side and site of the body, is causally related.