How does glaucoma cause vision loss?Clouds the lensDamages the optic nerveCauses bleedingMakes new vessels form

Understanding Glaucoma and Vision Loss

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that lead to damage of the optic nerve, often due to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Here's how it specifically causes vision loss:

1. Damage to the Optic Nerve: The primary mechanism behind vision loss in glaucoma is the damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve transmits visual information from the eye to the brain, and if it is damaged, this transmission is impaired or lost. As the disease progresses, the nerve fibers die off, leading to blind spots in the visual field.

2. Intraocular Pressure: Elevated IOP is often a significant factor in glaucoma. The pressure can cause compression of the optic nerve fibers, resulting in cell death and vision impairment. Not all patients with glaucoma experience high IOP, but it remains a common risk factor.

3. Visual Field Loss: As the optic nerve becomes increasingly damaged, patients may experience peripheral vision loss, which can progress to tunnel vision. Advanced stages can lead to complete vision loss if left untreated.

4. Absence of Pain or Awareness: One of the challenges with glaucoma is that it often has no symptoms in the early stages. Patients may not realize they have the condition until significant damage has occurred, making regular eye exams crucial for early detection.

In conclusion, among the options provided, "Damages the optic nerve" is the most relevant process through which glaucoma causes vision loss. The other options listed do not accurately reflect the primary pathological mechanisms of glaucoma.