Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness all over the world just after cataracts and it is the leading cause of blindness in Africa. 1 in 200 people of the age 50 or less is a sufferer of glaucoma. And amount of sufferers increase with the increase of age. 1 in 10 is affected with glaucoma over the age of 80.
Glaucoma is a disorder of eye due to the damage of optic nerve in a characteristic manner. It causes a permanent damage to the eye and can lead to complete blindness if it is not timely treated since untreated optic nerve can be permanently damaged. It is caused due to an increase in liquid pressure in aqueous humors. Increase in liquid pressure is considered as the most important and the only controllable factor for glaucoma. Effectiveness of this only factor also varies person to person. Some may have a high level of liquid pressure over the years but they never develop glaucoma; some may have a relatively low pressure but their optic never damages and they develop glaucoma.
Retinal ganglion cells are present in the optic nerve in a characteristic pattern. The damage to optic nerve causes the function of retinal ganglion cells damaged. Retinal ganglion cells communicate with brain for all objects eye sees and detect them. Their failure results in failure of communication of eye messages and brain. Thus the result is vision failure. [Read more…] about Glaucoma