Glaucoma is not a single disease, but a group of eye disorders that damages the optic nerve, a bundle of nerve fibers that connects the eye to the brain. Glaucoma is one of the primary causes of vision loss and blindness worldwide, affecting at least three million people in the U.S. alone. Here are just a few of the most important things you should know about glaucoma.*

It’s painless, slow, and silent

Most people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it. The disease progresses slowly, and is painless, with no symptoms until it’s at an advanced stage. The damage to the nerve is irreversible, along with whatever vision loss has already occurred. 

For this reason, says ophthalmologist Dr. Steve Schallhorn, Chief Medical Director at Zeiss Medical Technology, glaucoma is often called ‘the silent thief of sight.’ Even when you begin to lose vision, you’re not likely to realize what you’re missing. 

Who is at risk

Anyone can develop glaucoma, but certain groups of people are at higher risk. Regarding the most common form of the disease, called primary open-angle glaucoma, higher-risk groups include:

• Black Americans over 40,
• Anyone over the age of 60,
• People with a family history of glaucoma, and
• People with diabetes.

Having glaucoma doesn’t guarantee blindness, however, or even vision loss if caught and treated early enough. “That’s why it’s so important to be screened for glaucoma, to have routine eye examinations, especially if you’re over the age of 40,” Schallhorn cautions.

Treatment options

Treatment options for glaucoma come with a range of choices that include:

• Medicated eye drops,
• Laser therapy,
• Surgery, and
• Oral medications.

Your ophthalmologist will discuss all your options with you to determine the best treatment route for your particular medical and lifestyle needs.

“We can’t cure it,” says Schallhorn, “but we can slow or halt the progression.”

*Guertin, R. (2024, March 13). Living Well: 5 Things to Know about Glaucoma. WNKY. https://www.wnky.com/living-well-5-things-to-know-about-glaucoma/ 

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