So what exactly is glaucoma? Technically not a disease, it's a degenerative condition in which the optic nerve deteriorates, which can eventually lead to blindness. Glaucoma can be caused by injury to the eyes, heredity, or a number of diseases, including diabetes. Who is most likely to develop glaucoma? Unfortunately, everyone is somewhat at risk, but certain pre-existing conditions can increase your chances. According to the Glaucoma Foundation in New York City, these include:

being over 45 and not having had your eyes examined regularly
having a family member with a history of glaucoma
having abnormally high intraocular pressure (when fluid in the eye exerts pressure on the "globe," which is the lining of the eyeball)
being of African or Asian descent
having diabetes
being nearsighted
long-term steroid use
having suffered an eye injury
having high blood pressure

According to Mike Jones, O.D., an optometrist with the St. Louis-based American Optometric Association, there are dozens of different types of glaucoma, and treating each of them is difficult because once sight is lost, it cannot be regained. Thus even people who don't have any existing health or vision problems should get regular check-ups; in other words, prevention is the best treatment. People over age 40 should have a glaucoma test at least every two years, as part of a regular eye exam.

Jones says he's encouraged by some of the treatment advances of the past decade. "Glaucoma can be treated in a number of ways so that it does not worsen; the initial method is using eye drops or oral medication," he explains. "There have been a number of surgical advances within the past 10 years that have shown some particular promise, but there's still no strong evidence that vision lost to glaucoma can be restored."

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