Glaucoma:
An eye condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eyes rises. Untreated, it leads to vision loss or even blindness. There are several types, including open-angle glaucoma (the common adult-onset) and acute angle-closure glaucoma. The common type of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, is an eye disease in which the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises, leading to vision loss or even blindness. At the front of the eye, there is a small space called the anterior chamber. Clear fluid flows in and out of the chamber to bathe and nourish nearby tissues. In glaucoma, for still unknown reasons, the fluid drains too slowly out of the eye. As the fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye rises. Unless this pressure is controlled, it may cause damage to the optic nerve and other parts of the eye and loss of vision. Open-angle glaucoma is so named because the anterior angle of the eye stays open.
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