Glaucoma - The Thief of Sight WHAT IS GLAUCOMA? Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve - which is the connection between the eye and the brain - If it is not treated, glaucoma can cause vision loss and irreversible blindness. According to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, by 2020, 80 Million people will suffer from Glaucoma globally and this number is on the rise WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GLAUCOMA? Glaucoma is referred to as the “silent thief of sight” and can affect one or both eyes. There are no symptoms during the early stages as vision stays normal and there is no pain. As the disease gets worse, peripheral vision will begin to fail, this means that objects straight ahead of you may be clear but objects to your sides may not be seen. Over time, glaucoma will eventually also affect the central vision causing permanent vision loss or blindness How do you know if you have glaucoma?