Early diagnosis Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S. Glaucoma occurs when pressure inside the eye known as intraocular pressure rises. A healthy eye produces a clear fluid called the aqueous humor. The eye continually drains the fluid when new aqueous humor is produced. If something blocks the drainage, then intraocular pressure rises. Increased pressure can damage the optic nerve, which is the eye s highway to the brain.
Early diagnosis makes a big difference.
Without treatment, people with glaucoma may notice that they can t see out of the sides of their eyes something like tunnel vision. Over time, glaucoma also can steal a person s remaining vision, causing blindness. When symptoms start to show up, people tend to adjust to them. It s not unheard of for someone to come in virtually blind from glaucoma without having any other symptoms along the way. Early diagnosis is so important.