Glaucoma Overview
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve (the bundle of nerve fibers that carries information from the eye to the brain) and can lead to vision loss and possibly blindness.
Vision experts believe that half of those affected by glaucoma may not know it, because it usually has no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. By the time people notice that something is wrong with their vision, the disease has already caused considerable damage.
Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be regained. If left untreated, glaucoma will eventually lead to blindness. Although there is no cure, medications and surgery can help slow the disease's progression.
Glaucoma Worldwide
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, affecting 80 million people. Given the aging of the world's population, this number may increase to more than 111 million by 2040. More than three million Americans are living with glaucoma, 2.7 million of whom—aged 40 and older—are affected by its most common type, open-angle glaucoma. In the United States, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness among African Americans and Hispanics.
Open-angle glaucoma is three to four times more common in African Americans than in non-Hispanic whites. Between the ages of 45 and 64, glaucoma is fifteen times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans than in Caucasians.
Glaucoma Facts
- Eye pressure is a major risk factor for glaucoma. However, not every person with increased eye pressure will develop glaucoma, and glaucoma can develop without increased eye pressure.
- The disease first causes a loss of peripheral (side) vision and, over time, can also damage your central vision.
- Glaucoma can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve and can result in vision loss and even blindness.
- Currently there is no cure for glaucoma, however, early detection treatment can slow the progression of the disease.
Eye pressure is a major risk factor for glaucoma. However, not every person with increased eye pressure will develop glaucoma, and glaucoma can develop without increased eye pressure.
Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, may be caused by high pressure in the eye.
The disease first causes a loss of peripheral (side) vision and, over time, can also damage your central vision.
Glaucoma can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve and can result in vision loss and even blindness.
Currently there is no cure for glaucoma, however, early detection treatment can slow the progression of the disease.
Early treatment can slow the progression of glaucoma.
Donate to National Glaucoma Research
Your gift can help lead to treatments and a cure to end glaucoma. Fund the latest, promising research and help provide valuable information to families living with this disease.
Stay in touch.
Receive glaucoma breakthrough news, research updates, and inspiring stories.