What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is often called the 'silent thief of sight' because most forms have no warning signs. The gradual damage to the optic nerve—the bundle of nerve fibers that transmits visual information from your eye to your brain—can go unnoticed until significant vision loss has occurred.

Types of Glaucoma

• Open-Angle Glaucoma: The most common form (90% of cases). The drainage angle remains open but the trabecular meshwork is partially blocked, causing pressure to build gradually.
• Angle-Closure Glaucoma: Occurs when the iris bulges forward and blocks the drainage angle. Can develop slowly or suddenly (acute angle-closure is a medical emergency).
• Normal-Tension Glaucoma: Optic nerve damage occurs even though eye pressure is within normal range.
• Secondary Glaucoma: Results from another eye condition, injury, medication, or disease.
• Congenital Glaucoma: Present at birth due to abnormal eye development.

How Glaucoma Damages Vision

The optic nerve is made up of more than a million tiny nerve fibers. When eye pressure is too high or blood flow to the optic nerve is reduced, these fibers gradually die. As they die, blind spots develop in your peripheral (side) vision. Most people don't notice these blind spots until significant damage has occurred. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to total blindness.

Glaucoma by the Numbers

• Over 3 million Americans have glaucoma
• Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide
• About half of people with glaucoma don't know they have it
• African Americans are 6-8x more likely to get glaucoma
• Risk increases significantly after age 60