Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve of the eye, which is basically the structure that relays what the eye sees to the brain. The major risk factor is represented by the intraocular pressure (IOP) that, when sufficiently elevated, will damage the optic nerve. If left untreated, continued damage to this structure may lead to visual field defects, visual impairment (noticed as foggy/cloudy vision), and blindness.
Important message for glaucoma patients
It is important for you to get yourself regularly screened for glaucoma. If you have been diagnosed to have glaucoma, effective treatment options are now available and regular treatment and follow up can help you to preserve your vision for your lifetime, avoiding unnecessary fear of going blind.
You can live happily with glaucoma and enjoy an excellent quality of life, particularly if the disease is detected early and treated in time. Always remember that once you have glaucoma, you will have to be under the care of an eye doctor for the rest of your life.
There is a lot of research going on and new treatments may become available for glaucoma in the near future.
World Glaucoma Association
www.worldglaucoma.org
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