What Is Glaucoma?
6. Disease Process
As mentioned earlier, glaucoma develops over time and usually without any early signs or symptoms. For this reason, it is difficult for a patient to know that they are getting glaucoma without undergoing tests by a doctor. As the disease progresses, it causes damage to the optic nerve in the back of the eye.
This leads to deterioration of vision, especially peripheral vision. The patient might not notice this change, and therefore might not consult a doctor. This can mean that glaucoma continues damaging the optic nerve until vision is greatly compromised at which point a patient might seek medical care. However, while the patient can get help so that the damage does not progress any further, at this state, the damage already done is irreversible.
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