What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma refers to certain eye diseases that affect the optic nerve and cause vision loss. When damage to the optic nerve fibers occurs, blind spots develop. There blind spots usually go undetected until optic nerve is significantly damaged. If the entire optic nerve is destroyed, blindness results.
Most, but not all, of these diseases typically produce elevated pressure inside the eye, called intraocular pressure (IOP). Normal IOP is measured in millimeters of mercury and can range from 10-21 mm Hg. An elevated IOP is the most important risk factor for the development of glaucoma.
