Glaucoma: Causes, Treatments, and What You Need to Know

When your glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often due to high fluid pressure inside the eye. Also known as the silent thief of sight, it doesn’t hurt, doesn’t blur vision early on, and quietly steals your peripheral sight until it’s too late. About 3 million Americans have it, and half don’t even know. That’s because the most common type, open-angle glaucoma, the gradual clogging of the eye’s drainage system that causes pressure to build slowly over time, shows no warning signs until significant damage is done.

High intraocular pressure, the fluid pressure inside the eye that, when too high, crushes the optic nerve fibers is the biggest known risk factor—but not everyone with high pressure gets glaucoma, and some with normal pressure still do. That’s why regular eye exams aren’t just for reading glasses. If you’re over 40, have a family history, are Black or Hispanic, or have diabetes, you’re at higher risk. Your eye doctor checks pressure, nerve health, and side vision—no pain, no fuss, but it could save your sight.

Treatment isn’t about curing glaucoma. It’s about stopping it from getting worse. Most people start with daily eye drops, medications that either reduce fluid production or improve drainage to lower pressure. Some work better than others depending on your body’s response. If drops aren’t enough, lasers or surgery can open drainage pathways. The key? Sticking with your treatment. Missing doses or skipping appointments is the #1 reason people lose vision from glaucoma.

You won’t find a magic supplement or eye exercise that reverses damage. But you can find real help in understanding what’s happening inside your eye. Below, you’ll find clear, no-fluff guides on the medications used to control pressure, how to spot early signs you might be missing, why some eye drops cause more side effects than others, and what newer treatments are showing promise. This isn’t theory—it’s what people are actually using to keep their vision intact.