WHAT CAUSES GLAUCOMA?

Wondering what leads to glaucoma? It usually starts with a buildup of pressure inside the eye, but there’s more to the story. Learn about the main causes and how they can slowly affect your vision over time. 

WHAT CAUSES GLAUCOMA?1

The exact cause of glaucoma isn’t fully known, but it’s often linked to high pressure inside the eye (called intraocular pressure or IOP). This happens when the fluid in the eye doesn’t drain properly. Over time, the pressure can damage the optic nerve, and the cells needed for vision. 

Glaucoma can also occur in people with normal IOP levels. Other contributing factors include:

Reference:

  1. Weinreb RN, Aung T, Medeiros The pathophysiology and treatment of glaucoma: a review. JAMA. 2014 May 14;311(18):1901-11. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.3192. PMID: 24825645; PMCID: PMC4523637.