Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a serious eye disease marked by an increase in the pressure that the fluids within the eyeball exert on other parts of the eye. If this pressure is unrelieved, it may harm the retina and ultimately damage the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss, even blindness. Those at greatest risk are people over the age of sixty; people of African ancestry; and people with diabetes, high blood pressure, severe myopia (nearsightedness), or a family history of glaucoma. Smokers also have an elevated risk, as do those who have sustained eye injuries or have used steroids for an extended period of time. Glaucoma probably has many causes. Many scientists believe it may be closely linked to stress and nutritional problems, or disorders such as diabetes and high blood pressure.