What can untreated glaucoma potentially lead to?

Untreated glaucoma can lead to permanent blindness due to the progressive damage it causes to the optic nerve over time. Glaucoma is often caused by increased intraocular pressure, which can damage the nerve fibers that transmit visual information from the eye to the brain. If left untreated, this pressure can result in significant and irreversible vision loss.

Individuals with glaucoma typically experience peripheral vision loss first, and as the condition worsens, it can lead to tunnel vision and eventually complete blindness. The importance of early detection and ongoing treatment cannot be overstated, as timely intervention can often help manage the condition and prevent severe visual impairment.

Options like color blindness, partial blindness, and night blindness do not directly correlate with the effects of untreated glaucoma. While partial blindness can describe a range of vision impairments, untreated glaucoma specifically poses a high risk of leading to irreversible, total blindness.