Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness in America and if untreated can lead to permanent sight loss. This condition arises when the intraocular pressure is chronically high which will lead to advanced nerve degeneration in the retinal nerve fiber layer. This advanced degeneration of nerve fibers causes vision loss that begins peripherally and can progress centrally. Glaucoma is painless and should be identified before vision loss occurs. There are many causes of glaucoma including genetic predisposition, injury to eye(s) and certain medications. Anyone who is in a high risk category based on race, family history, high myopia or eye injury should have regular eye exams to rule out glaucoma as it is much more manageable when diagnosed at an early age versus after damage has already occurred. There are many forms of glaucoma and not all are treated in the same manner. While some do require surgery, most are managed with topical medications.