Glaucoma is an eye condition that develops when too much fluid pressure builds up inside of the eye. The increased internal pressure, called intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve, which transmits images to the brain. If damage to the optic nerve from high eye pressure continues, glaucoma will worsen your vision. Without treatment, glaucoma can cause blindness within a few years.
For most people, there are usually few or no symptoms of glaucoma. The first sign of glaucoma is often the loss of peripheral or side vision, which can go unnoticed until late in the disease. Detecting glaucoma early is one reason you should have a complete exam with an eye specialist every one to two years.
Glaucoma cannot be prevented, but if it is diagnosed and treated early, the disease can be controlled. Glaucoma treatment may include prescription eye drops, laser, or microsurgery.