People dealing with glaucoma are worried about whether it is a lifelong disease. Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that affect the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. Our eyes require a precise balance of fluid pressure to operate correctly. Glaucoma occurs when the intraocular pressure (IOP) increases excessively, damaging the optic nerve. But here is the good news: Most glaucoma patients can maintain good eyesight with a timely diagnosis and appropriate glaucoma treatment.