GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma

Glaucoma

Introduction

Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders, each of which involves an increase of fluid pressure within the eye. Together these disorders are among the leading causes of blindness in the United States, affecting approximately 2 million Americans. Much of the glaucoma-induced blindness is theoretically preventable with early detection. But there lies the catch—and the tragedy—of this disease, which often goes unnoticed until it is well advanced and severe vision loss, is inevitable.

Discussion and Analysis

In the normal eye a fluid called the aqueous humor circulates between the lens and the cornea and nourishes structures within the eye (see illustration). Although this ...