Glaucoma

What is Glaucoma ?

Glaucoma is the second largest cause of blindness in the world, after cataract. It is fast emerging as a major cause of blindness in India. According to WHO estimates, India has about 10 million blind. Out of every 100 cases of blindness, about 13 are reported to be on account of glaucoma. Glaucoma causes blindness by damaging the nerve cells of the retina, usually because of the increase in IOP.

In olden times, glaucoma was considered to be a disease related to IOP in excess of 21 mmHg. But now we know that there is more to glaucoma than the increase in pressure. Doctors now focus more on the nerve damage caused by glaucoma and the consequent loss of vision. Thus, in simple terms, we can define it as:

Glaucoma is a progressive loss of the nerve cells (neuropathy) of the retina, marked by changes in the structure of the retina and a narrowing of the field of vision. It usually follows increase in IOP but not always.