Glaucoma is an eye disease leading to progressive damage to the optic nerve (responsible for taking visual signals back to the brain), and is characterized by loss of nerve tissue resulting in loss of vision., Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma and is associated with an increase in the intra-ocular pressure (IOP) causing progressive damage to the optic nerve.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in Canada and most often occurs in people over age 40. Other risk factors for glaucoma include:
• family history of glaucoma
• diabetics
• African-Canadians and Hispanic-Canadians
• thin corneas
• chronic eye inflammation
• medications that increase IOP

Glaucoma cannot currently be prevented, but if diagnosed and treated early it can usually be controlled successfully with medication or surgery. However, vision already lost to glaucoma cannot be restored. Our eye doctors recommend an annual dilated eye examination for people at risk for glaucoma as a preventive eye care measure. Depending on your specific condition, our eye doctors may recommend more frequent examinations.