How to Say "Glaucoma" in Japanese

緑内障

ryokunaishō[ɾʲo̞kɯ̟na̠iɕo̞ː]

The Japanese word for glaucoma is 緑内障 (ryokunaishō).

緑内障 is a noun used to refer to the eye disease known as glaucoma.

Meaning: eye disease (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of three parts: 緑 meaning green, 内 meaning inside and 障 meaning obstruction or disorder.

ryokunaishō

While the English word 'glaucoma' comes from the Greek word for 'blue-green', the Japanese 緑内障 independently arrived at the same color association.
The character 障 in 緑内障 is also used in the word 障壁, which means 'barrier' or 'wall'. This emphasizes the medical idea of the disease as a physical blockage of fluid within the eye.
In Japanese medical contexts, 'ryokunaishō' is a formal clinical term. In casual conversation, a person might simply refer to their 'me no byōki' or 'eye sickness' to avoid the technicality of the word.

緑内障ですか？
Do you have glaucoma?
This sentence is useful for asking if someone has 緑内障.
Tatoeba #9964064 by small_snow, translation #9850985 by NurseMeeks
去年緑内障の手術をしました。
I had an operation for glaucoma last year.
This sentence is useful for mentioning that someone underwent surgery for 緑内障.
Tatoeba #182183 by mookeee, translation #19407 by CK
私の祖母は緑内障に悩んでいます。
My grandmother suffers from glaucoma.
緑内障の予防方法を教えてください。
Please tell me the prevention methods for glaucoma.
緑内障の予防が大切です。
ryokunaishō no yobō ga taisetsu desu.
Preventing glaucoma is important.
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Two people are talking about eye health at a cafe.

蓮 Ren

最近、目の調子はどう？
saikin, me no chōshi wa dō?
How have your eyes been lately?
陽葵 Himari

少し心配で、緑内障の検査を受けました。
sukoshi shinpai de, ryokunaishō no kensa o ukemashita.
I was a little worried, so I had a glaucoma exam.
蓮 Ren

検査の結果はどうだった？
kensa no kekka wa dō datta?
How was the result of the exam?
陽葵 Himari

幸い、異常はなかったよ。
saiwai, ijō wa nakatta yo.
Fortunately, there was nothing wrong.

Sources

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