Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness. Known as the silent thief of eye sight, glaucoma often progresses with no symptoms or warning signs, making it crucial to detect it early. Although more common in people over 60, glaucoma can affect people of any age.
How does glaucoma progress?
Your eye is filled with a clear fluid which your body is continuously replacing. More fluid enters the eye in the back and the excess fluid drains through the front. As you age, the “drains” for the fluid become narrow and the eye cannot drain the excess fluid quickly enough. This fluid builds up and pressure increases in the eye. If the pressure gets high enough, it can damage the optic nerve because the pressure restricts the flow of blood to the nerve, causing vision loss and even blindness.
Vision loss due to glaucoma can’t be recovered. So it’s important to have regular eye exams that include measurements of your eye pressure. If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or prevented!