What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is the loss of sight that happens when the optic nerve is damaged. The optic nerve is damaged usually by increased ocular (eye) pressure. Pressure builds in the eye when either too much fluid is produced, or when the drainage channels are blocked. Nerve damage happens slowly, but continuously in most forms of glaucoma. This makes it difficult for you to know if you are losing your vision unless your doctor notices this. There are close to three million people in the United States with glaucoma, and most do not know that they have this condition. Without treatment, glaucoma can cause blindness. The good thing is that blindness can be prevented in 90% of glaucoma patients. The best way to prevent blindness is for a doctor is to find out that the patient has glaucoma early, and treat it before the optic nerve is damaged greatly.

Different Forms of Glaucoma >