Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the world's leading causes of blindness. In the UK, 1 in 50 people over 40 have this condition. Glaucoma is not curable, but blindness is preventable if your glaucoma is diagnosed and treated early enough. While there are usually no warning signs, regular eye tests will help detect the onset of your disease.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterised by loss of vision due to damage of the optic nerve. The optic nerve carries sight images to the brain and any damage to the nerve results in damage to sight.

Usually, but not always, the damage occurs because pressure within the eye increases. This damages the nerve fibres and tiny blood vessels supplying the optic nerve with oxygen and other nutrients. The damaged nerve fibres lead to deterioration of field of vision. Loss of visual field occurs at the centre and edges of the field of vision. In advanced stages of the disease the field of vision becomes narrower producing tunnel vision.

Will I go blind from glaucoma?

If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, this does not mean you will go blind, especially if you have been diagnosed with glaucoma at an early stage in the disease.

Drops and sometimes operations can stabilise the glaucoma, and, with regular check-ups, you will be able to manage the condition. You will experience some degree of sight loss but it will be minimised with effective treatment.

Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

Will I go blind from glaucoma?

Treatments for this condition are: