Glaucoma is a serious disease, and if left untreated is a leading cause of blindness. Sometimes called the silent thief, glaucoma damages vision so gradually you often won’t notice any vision loss until it’s too late. Glaucoma has no symptoms, making preventative screening a critical part of your eye health exams.

Glaucoma is a condition where fluid does not flow easily through the eye, causing pressure to build. This increase in pressure can damage the optic nerve. If high eye pressure is allowed to continue unchecked, glaucoma will permanently damage the optic nerve.  Without treatment, glaucoma can cause permanent blindness.

Because most people suffering from glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain, it is important to have regular eye health exams so that glaucoma is properly diagnosed and treated before any damage occurs.

TWO TYPES OF GLAUCOMA:

OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

This is the most common type of glaucoma. The structures of the eye appear normal, but fluid in the eye does not flow properly through the drain of the eye, called the trabecular meshwork.

ANGLE-CLOSURE GLAUCOMA

This type of glaucoma is less common, but can cause a sudden build-up of pressure in the eye. Drainage may be poor because the angle between the iris and the cornea (where a drainage channel for the eye is located) is too narrow. Or, the pupil opens too wide, narrowing the angle and blocking the flow of the fluid through that channel.

Your doctor will be able to diagnose the type of glaucoma and the actual severity of your intraocular pressure. Treatment options vary from drops to surgery, depending on the type and severity of your condition.