Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision.
This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye.
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to your eye's optic nerve and gets worse over time.
It is often linked to a buildup of pressure inside your eye.
Glaucoma tends to be inherited and may not show up until later in life.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60.
The increased pressure, called intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve, which transmits images to your brain.
If the damage continues, glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss.
Without treatment, glaucoma can cause total permanent blindness within a few years.
Most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain.
You need to see your eye doctor regularly so she can diagnose and treat glaucoma before long-term visual loss happens.
If you are over age 40 and have a family history of the disease, you should get a complete eye exam from an eye doctor every 1 to 2 years.
If you have health problems like diabetes or a family history of glaucoma or are at risk for other eye diseases, you may need to go more often.