Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye diseases in which the optic nerve at the back of the eye is slowly destroyed. In most people this damage is due to an increased pressure inside the eye - a result of blockage of the circulation of aqueous, or its drainage. In other patients the damage may be caused by poor blood supply to the vital optic nerve fibres, a weakness in the structure of the nerve, and/or a problem in the health of the nerve fibres themselves. People who have their eyes regularly checked with either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist as part of a routine eye exam will be as part of the exam tested for a serious eye disease known as glaucoma. This is a relatively silent disease that can strike at anytime, and when symptoms are finally detected, for some it may be too late. There are two types of glaucoma--acute and chronic. Thankfully the acute form is rare, but nonetheless when it does occur, immediate treatment should be sought to prevent permanent loss of vision. Basically, glaucoma is a condition where pressures will build up within the eyeball. It is like a sink that is filling up with water, and with the drain closed. If you place some kind of a flexible cover over the sink, the cover will start to bulge outward. Similarly, this is what happens inside the eyeball, and if left untreated can lead to impaired vision or permanent blindness.
