Glaucoma

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• Images
• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve. It is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. It usually happens when the fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises, damaging the optic nerve. Often there are no symptoms at first. Without treatment, people with glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral, or side vision. They seem to be looking through a tunnel. Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.

A comprehensive eye exam can tell if you have glaucoma. People at risk should get eye exams at least every two years. They include

• African Americans over age 40
• People over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
• People with a family history of glaucoma

There is no cure, but glaucoma can usually be controlled. Early treatment can help protect your eyes against vision loss. Treatments usually include prescription eyedrops and/or surgery.

NIH: National Eye Institute

Start Here

• Facts about Glaucoma (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
• Glaucoma (National Eye Institute)
• Glaucoma: Symptoms and Causes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• What Is Glaucoma? (Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish

Symptoms

• Glaucoma Symptoms (BrightFocus Foundation) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Dilating Eye Drops (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) Also in Spanish
• Five Common Glaucoma Tests (Glaucoma Research Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Optic Nerve Imaging (Glaucoma Research Foundation)
• Screening for Glaucoma (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force) - PDF

Prevention and Risk Factors

• New Tool to Predict Glaucoma (Glaucoma Research Foundation)

Treatments and Therapies

• Alternative Medicine (Glaucoma Research Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Does Marijuana Help Treat Glaucoma? (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• Generic Medications: Are They the Same? (Glaucoma Research Foundation)
• Glaucoma Treatments and Drugs (BrightFocus Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Medication Guide (Glaucoma Research Foundation) Also in Spanish

Living With

• Daily Life with Glaucoma (Glaucoma Research Foundation)
• Eye Drop Tips (Glaucoma Research Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Recreation and Quality of Life (BrightFocus Foundation)

Related Issues

• African Americans and Glaucoma (Glaucoma Research Foundation)
• Diabetes and Your Eyesight (Glaucoma) (Glaucoma Research Foundation)
• Dry Eyes and Glaucoma: Double Trouble (Glaucoma Research Foundation)
• Importance of Corneal Thickness (Glaucoma Research Foundation)
• Talking to Your Doctor (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Types of Glaucoma (Glaucoma Foundation)

Genetics

• Genetics Home Reference: coloboma (National Library of Medicine)
• Genetics Home Reference: early-onset glaucoma (National Library of Medicine)
• Genetics Home Reference: isolated ectopia lentis (National Library of Medicine)
• Genetics Home Reference: nail-patella syndrome (National Library of Medicine)

Images

• Diagram of the Eye (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
• Flow of Aqueous Humor (BrightFocus Foundation)
• How the Build Up of Aqueous Humor Can Damage the Optic Nerve (BrightFocus Foundation)
• View How Glaucoma May Affect Vision (BrightFocus Foundation)

Videos and Tutorials

• Glaucoma (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Glaucoma (National Eye Institute)
• Innovations in Pediatric Glaucoma Surgery (BroadcastMed) - UAB Callahan Eye Hospital, Birmingham, AL, 3/17/2014

Statistics and Research

• Experimental Contact Lens to Prevent Glaucoma-Induced Blindness (National Institute of General Medical Sciences)
• Glaucoma, Open-Angle (National Eye Institute)
• Study Finds a Connection between Glaucoma and Sleep Apnea (American Academy of Ophthalmology)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Glaucoma (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Effectiveness of multiple therapeutic strategies in neovascular glaucoma patients: A...
• Article: Evidence-based practice guideline of Chinese herbal medicine for primary open-angle...
• Article: Review of the Xen Gel Stent and InnFocus MicroShunt.
• Glaucoma -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Eye Anatomy (Glaucoma Research Foundation)

Find an Expert

• American Optometric Association
• Find Services for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (American Foundation for the Blind)
• National Eye Institute

Children

• Does Your Child Have Glaucoma? (Glaucoma Research Foundation)

Patient Handouts

• Glaucoma (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Ophthalmoscopy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Standard ophthalmic exam (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Tonometry (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish