Glaucoma causes an increase in intraocular pressure, which when exceeded by the tissues in the eye, causes functional damage including the cornea, iris, lens and especially the optic nerve.
Initially, this can manifest as a narrowing of the visual field and, if left untreated, glaucoma can eventually lead to blindness that cannot be reversed. Acute glaucoma can cause blindness in a matter of hours and requires urgent medical attention. However, most glaucoma leads to blindness as a chronic process, and with early detection, aggressive treatment and regular follow-up, its progression can be effectively stopped or delayed and the vast majority of patients can maintain some visual function for life.