what is glaucoma of the eye

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, which is vital for good vision. It is often related to increased pressure in the eye, but it can also occur with normal eye pressure. Glaucoma can cause gradual vision loss and is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. Most forms of glaucoma have no warning signs, and the symptoms can start so slowly that they may not be noticed. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam. There are different types of glaucoma, with open-angle glaucoma being the most common. It is often referred to as the "silent thief of sight" because it does not usually have any symptoms until the damage is quite severe. Regular comprehensive eye exams are important to detect glaucoma in its early stages, before significant damage occurs