Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and can result in vision loss and blindness. But with early detection and treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss.
The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers. It connects the retina
to the brain. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for good vision.
Several large studies have shown that eye pressure is a major risk factor for optic nerve damage. When the optic nerve is damaged from increased pressure, glaucoma — and vision loss — may result. That’s why controlling pressure inside the eye is important. Fortunately, it is easy and painless to have your pressure checked during a routine eye exam and there are a number of effective treatments available for glaucoma.
Another risk factor for optic-nerve damage relates to blood pressure. Thus, it is also important that you work with your doctor to make sure your blood pressure is at a proper level.
— Source: National Eye Institute