Glaucoma is a treatable eye-condition that arises from an increase of pressure in the eye. Increased pressure can damage the eye’s optic nerve and cause vision loss and eventually, blindness.

Statistics

According to the WHO website (Resnikoff et al: 2004), glaucoma accounts for 10.1% of global blindness, making it the 3rd largest cause of blindness worldwide.

Risk Factors

People who are at greater risk of developing glaucoma include:

• Those with high blood pressure,
• Those with high eye pressure,
• Those who have a family history of glaucoma,
• African and Asian people, who are said to have a greater chance of developing glaucoma, and
• Those people who are over the age of 60 - chances of developing glaucoma increase as we age.

Prevention and treatment

• Prevention is always better than the cure - a comprehensive eye exam at least once every two years is strongly advised.
• Treatment of glaucoma can include medicines (eye drops or pills) and surgery (laser or conventional) or a combination of both medicine and surgery.