Glaucoma
Glaucoma, commonly known as "eye pressure", is damage to the optic nerve due to frequent increases in intraocular pressure. As a result, the field of view of a person gradually narrows. Glaucoma, an insidious disease that manifests itself in the last stages of the disease, can cause severe damage to the optic nerve that cannot be repaired if diagnosed late.
How does glaucoma (eye pressure) occur?
People with higher than normal eye pressure have a higher risk of developing glaucoma, but this does not mean that all people with high eye pressure can develop glaucoma. Glaucoma can develop for many reasons. A fluid called aqueous humor is produced inside the choroid of the eye. There is a balanced pressure that occurs when this produced fluid exits the eye. This pressure is a necessary condition for maintaining the integrity of the eye. When this fluid is not enough, it accumulates in the eye, causing an increase in pressure and damaging the optic nerves.
Who gets glaucoma?
Glaucoma may be related to genetics. People with a family history of glaucoma are at a higher risk of developing it. In other words, one or more genes may be defective and these individuals may become more susceptible to the disease.
People over the age of 40 have an increased risk of developing glaucoma.
