Increased intraocular pressure, often known as glaucoma, can harm your optic nerve, which delivers pictures to your brain. Glaucoma, if left untreated, can cause irreversible vision loss or perhaps complete blindness within a few years. It is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. The only cure for glaucoma is surgery to replace the destroyed optic nerve tissue. However, medical treatment is necessary before surgery is considered. Even though glaucoma cannot be cured, it can be controlled with medication and lifestyle changes. These include: • Having your eyes checked regularly by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor). This will help detect early signs of glaucoma development. • Maintaining good blood pressure and cholesterol levels. High blood pressure can lead to glaucoma development while high cholesterol levels may indicate that you are at risk for developing diabetes which is another major cause of blindness worldwide. • Stopping smoking. Smoking increases your risk of developing glaucoma. • Eating a healthy diet low in sugar and saturated fats and including more fruits and vegetables per day could help prevent further damage from occurring. • Considering laser therapy or trabeculectomy if the medicine fails to stop the disease progression.