According to the Mayo Clinic, Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60 and many forms have no warning signs. Here’s how to make sure it’s recognized early to prevent or slow vision loss.

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye.

While it is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60, glaucoma can occur at any age but is more common in older adults.

Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. The effect is so gradual that you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is at an advanced stage.

Because vision loss due to glaucoma can’t be recovered, it’s important to have regular eye exams that include measurements of your eye pressure so a diagnosis can be made in its early stages and treated appropriately. If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or prevented. If you have the condition, you’ll generally need treatment for the rest of your life.

LEARN MORE about symptoms, causes, when to see a doctor, risk factors and prevention.