The optic nerve in our eyes carries images from our eyes to our brain. The optic nerve functions best when the intraocular pressure (IOP) inside your eye is normal. Glaucoma is a group of eye disease that damages the optic nerve when there is a build-up of excess eye fluid. Patients with glaucoma require a decrease in intraocular pressure to treat the disease and avoid further loss of vision. This is the aim of different types of treatment.
In a healthy eye, a fluid called aqueous humor flows freely throughout the eye and travels through an internal drainage system.
If the drainage system is blocked or partially obstructed, the natural pressure in your eye may increase. When eye pressure becomes too high, the optic nerve can become damaged causing blurred vision, severe eye and head pain, and, if left untreated, vision loss or blindness.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. The consequences of glaucoma are permanent and irreversible if left untreated. However, most people who are diagnosed with glaucoma will keep their eyesight for the rest of their life with the correct treatment.
The symptoms of glaucoma are slow developing, and many individuals will be unaware that they have developed the condition until sight loss occurs. Early treatment is vital to helping retain eyesight, therefore early diagnosis is key.
Glaucoma is most commonly diagnosed during routine eye tests. For this reason, it is crucial to attend routine eye tests every 2 years to identify early signs of glaucoma
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