glaucoma

American  

[glaw-koh-muh, glou-] / glɔˈkoʊ mə, glaʊ- /

noun

1. Ophthalmology. abnormally high fluid pressure in the eye, most commonly caused either by blockage of the channel through which aqueous humor drains open-angle glaucoma, or chronic glaucoma or by pressure of the iris against the lens, which traps the aqueous humor angle-closure glaucoma, or acute glaucoma.

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glaucoma British  

/ ɡlɔːˈkəʊmə /

noun

1. a disease of the eye in which pressure within the eyeball damages the optic disc, impairing vision, sometimes progressing to blindness

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glaucoma Scientific  

/ glou-kō′mə,glô- /

1. A disease of the eye in which the pressure of fluid inside the eyeball is abnormally high, caused by obstructed outflow of the fluid. The increased pressure can damage the optic nerve and lead to partial or complete loss of vision.

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glaucoma Cultural  

1. A disease of the eye marked by increased fluid pressure in the eyeball. Glaucoma can damage the optic nerve and may result in blindness if not treated. Surgery may be required for severe cases.

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Other Word Forms

• glaucomatous adjective

Etymology

Origin of glaucoma

First recorded in 1635–45; Latin glaucōma, from Greek glaúkōma “opacity of the eye lens, cataract”; glauco-, -oma (cataracts and glaucoma were not clearly distinguished until the early 18th century)

Explanation

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness if it's not treated. It's much more common for elderly people to develop glaucoma than younger people. Glaucoma is usually caused by fluid building up in the eye and increasing the pressure on the optic nerve. Although glaucoma causes a lot of the blindness in people older than 60, it's almost always treatable if it's diagnosed early enough. The word glaucoma comes from the Greek glaukoma, "opacity of the lens," from the root glaukommatos, "gray-eyed."

Example Sentences

Severe myopia increases the risk of cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment later in life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

But after losing his sight due to glaucoma at six-years-old, he was told that a career in agriculture was an impossibility.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

That includes Joseph Morris, 61, who takes three blood-pressure medications and recently learned he has glaucoma.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 11, 2025

They argued that the pill and IUDs increased the risk of glaucoma and stroke.

From Slate • Nov. 11, 2025

Ulcers, glaucoma, gastritis, gangrene, cancer, broken limbs, malnutrition, and a host of infectious diseases—almost everything came through the doors of Zanmi Lasante.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French