Glaucoma

• Glaucoma is a complicated disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive and permanent loss of vision
• It is the second most common cause of blindness in the world and very common in South Africa
• It is caused by an increase in the pressure within the eye.
• This leads to damage to the optic nerve
• There is no specific level of elevated pressure that leads to damage but each individual has a pressure above which damage will occur.
• Risk factors include age, family history and Black-African heritage
• Early detection and treatment can slow or even halt the progression of the disease.
• Anyone with a family history should be screened by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) as a routine.
• If no family history is present, a good time to be checked is at the age of 40.

Link: www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/glaucoma.cfm