Glaucoma usually starts with no symptoms, and can only be diagnosed with regular eye exams

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness but only half the people affected are aware they have the disease. Glaucoma usually occurs when fluid builds in your eye, increasing pressure and causing permanent damage to the fragile optic nerve.

Secondary glaucoma can be caused by another eye condition or disease, such as a tumor or long-term steroid therapy.

While there is no cure, blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented through early diagnosis and treatment.

It’s important to have regular eye exams to detect glaucoma because there may be no symptoms and the disease progresses slowly, gradually stealing your sight. Fortunately, early detection and treatment with special eye drops, surgery or both can help preserve your vision.