Gradual painless visual loss: glaucoma.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in adult Americans. This disease remains undetected in one half of the people with this disease. Primary open angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease. Patients at risk for glaucoma usually have one or more of the following characteristics: advanced age, diabetes, myopia, elevated intraocular pressure, large cup to disc ratio, and a positive family history of the disease. Presently in the United States, treatment for primary open angle glaucoma is usually medical. Six classes of glaucoma medications are available, all of which have side effects. The second most prevalent form of glaucoma is angle closure glaucoma, the treatment for which is usually surgical. Although a cure for the various forms of glaucoma does not exist, an awareness of the problem and early detection and treatment minimize the impact of the disease.