Glaucoma Definition

Glaucoma is a term that refers to a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve. According to MayoClinic.com, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness.

Features

• A healthy optic nerve is necessary for good vision. The optic nerve connects the retina to the brain and transmits images from the eye to the brain.

Types

• There are several types of glaucoma, such as chronic, pressure, congenital and secondary. Most types of glaucoma are classified as open-angle glaucoma, which refers to conditions that are long-term. Closed-angle glaucoma is rare and acute.

Causes

• Damage to the optic nerve is usually caused by abnormally high pressure inside the eye that may result in vision loss or blindness. The pressure results when the fluid normally produced in the front of the eye increases.

Risk Factors

• There are several risk factors associated with glaucoma such as family history, age, medical conditions and eye injury. People age 60 and older have an increased risk of developing glaucoma as do those who suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure.

Symptoms

• There are usually no detectable symptoms with glaucoma, which is why an annual eye exam is important. As the condition progresses, a person may notice a loss of side (peripheral) vision.

Treatment

• There is no cure for glaucoma. Damage cannot be reversed, but medication and/or techniques such as laser surgery may help prevent vision loss. Early detection and treatment are imperative to slow the progression of effects caused by glaucoma.