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Glaucoma Affected
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Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve (which transmits the images you see from the eye to the brain) is damaged, leading to progressive, irreversible loss of vision. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye.
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Glaucoma has been nicknamed the "silent thief of sight" because the loss of vision normally occurs gradually over a long period of time and is often only recognized when the disease is quite advanced.
Glaucoma can be divided roughly into two main categories, "open angle" and "closed angle" glaucoma. Closed angle glaucoma can appear suddenly and is often painful; visual loss can progress quickly but the discomfort often leads patients to seek medical attention before permanent damage occurs. Open angle, chronic glaucoma tends to progress at a slower rate and the patient may not notice that they have lost vision until the disease has progressed significantly.
You are at risk for glaucoma if you have one or more risk factors, like myopia, a family history of glaucoma, or are of advanced age.
The goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower your eye pressure to prevent or slow further vision loss. Treatment often consists of medication but can also include laser treatment or conventional surgery. Glaucoma is a chronic disease that can be controlled but not cured.
