Glaucoma occurs in about 2% of the population over 40, even though less frequently it can also affect children and young adults. People with glaucoma usually have slow form of the condition, primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in which it takes years for it to incur damage to the eye. Many studies have shown that close to over one-third of cases remain undiagnosed. Risk factors for glaucoma include race, age, diabetes, smoking and family history. What actually happens during glaucoma is that the optic nerve suffers damage related to having higher pressures in the eye over a period of time. The optic nerve is sort of like a fiber optic cable that connects the eye to the brain. It carries a lot of information to the brain related to vision. Typically in glaucoma, the optic nerve damage causes  loss of peripheral vision that varies in from patient to patient. Eventually, if not treated, the loss of vision usually gets worse over the course of many months to years. It is very importa

  Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States. It is one of the  leading causes of blindness among African-Americans, and the leading cause of PREVENTABLE blindness in the United States. It's estimated that over 2 million Americans have glaucoma, and at least half of them are not aware they have the disease. Glaucoma is the name given to an eye disease in which the optic nerve at the back of the eye is slowly destroyed by damage due to an increased pressure inside the eye. Usually a result of blockage of the circulation of the fluid inside the eye called aqueous humor. It may also occur due to inadequate drainage. In some patients the damage may be caused by a weakness in the structure of the optic nerve, and/or a problem in the blood supply to the vital optic nerve fibers.  Damage usually progresses very slowly and destroys vision gradually, starting with the peripheral vision. Usually, early damage can be masked because one eye covers for th