What is Glaucoma ?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. In the early stages of the disease, there may be no symptoms. Experts estimate that half of the people affected by glaucoma may not know they have it.

Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve acts like an electric cable with over a million wires. It is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain.

There is no cure for glaucoma鈥攜et. However, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. The appropriate treatment depends upon the type of glaucoma among other factors. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease.

It was once thought that high pressure within the eye, also known as intraocular pressure or IOP, is the main cause of this optic nerve damage. Although IOP is clearly a risk factor, we now know that other factors must also be involved because even people with 鈥渘ormal鈥?levels of pressure can experience vision loss from glaucoma. Source(s): http://www.glaucoma.org/learn/what_is_gl...

glaucoma is a group of eye diseases characterized by the build-up of fluid pressure in the eyeball which severly affects the eye lens and optic nerve, resulting eventually in blindness unless the condition is detected and treated before damage becomes permanent.

primary glaucoma usually occurs w/o known cause. a high incidence of glaucoma in certain families suggests that it may be an inherited tendency. it is more common in far-sighted persons.

secondary glaucoma is a complication of other eye disorders, such as inflammation of the iris. diabetics seem more likely to develop this condition than non-diabetics.
Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy (damage to the optic nerve) which is associated with visual field defects. It may be associated with high intraocular pressure (IOP).

It may be primary or secondary. Primary conditions occur naturally, sometimes with a family history. Secondary causes are related to another cause, such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy with rubeosis, or uveitis.

Treatment of glaucoma is first by eye drops which lower the intraocular pressure. If that is not adequate, surgery may be required.