In glaucoma, the optic nerve fibres are damaged and then die.
Once the nerve fibres are damaged, they do not recover.
Eye pressure which is too high is a leading cause of optic nerve fibre damage.
Eye pressure which is too high is a leading cause of optic nerve fibre damage.
Almost any eye disorder associated with aging, inflammation, bleeding, injury, tumour or even birth defects can raise the eye pressure. However, in most cases of glaucoma, no specific abnormality is recognised; this condition is known as primary open-angle glaucoma. In other cases, the eye may be unusually small or exhibit other minor shape abnormalities that cause closed-angle glaucoma. In closed-angle glaucoma, the drainage system is totally blocked instead of just being clogged. At least fifty different mechanisms have been described that can raise the eye pressure, but all produce similar damage to the optic nerve. All methods of treatment are designed to lower the eye pressure to a level that will prevent further optic nerve damage.