Glaucoma is a disease that occurs when there is an increase in the fluid pressure within the eye. It is often referred to as the “silent thief of sight”, because it can cause blindness with little or no warning. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that as the pressure increases in the eye, the optic nerve is damaged causing loss of vision. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.

Glaucoma affects the side vision early in the disease, while the central vision is not affected until late in the disease process. It is possible to lose half of the optic nerve fibers before a change in vision is noted which is why early detection is so important. The pressure on the optic nerve causes irreversible damage and it is the optic nerve that allows the information that comes into your eyes to be processed in your brain which allows you to see.

There are several different types of glaucoma, but the most common is chronic open-angle glaucoma. In this disease, the pressure builds up slowly over time, so you may not be aware of the problem until your optic nerve is already damaged.

Learn about the risk factors of glaucoma