ABSTRACT
Glaucoma occurs when the intraocular pressure (IOP) exceeds the ability of the affected eye to tolerate it. There is no specific level of IOP that defines glaucoma. In general, the higher the IOP, the greater is the risk of glaucoma and loss of peripheral vision, low vision, and blindness. Damage to the optic nerve (the optic disc) and nerve fibers of the retina results in visual loss. Although the rates of occurrence of glaucoma increase with age, glaucoma may occur at any age. The eye health care worker should always be aware of this potentially blinding disease even in a patient with normal central acuity and a normal external ocular examination.
