Glaucoma: A Patient's Guide to the Disease

Ian W. Toal is a nurse in Barrie, Ontario.

Glaucoma is caused by a blockage in the eye’s drainage system. When
the fluid produced in the eye does not drain away in the proper fashion,
pressure builds up inside the eye, pushing back against the optic nerve.
Usually painless, this increased pressure causes a loss of peripheral
vision and, if untreated, can lead to blindness.

Written in a question-and-answer format, this book tells the reader
what glaucoma is, how it is commonly treated, and why medications are
needed. It also deals with such issues as side effects of medications,
complications of surgery, and long-term prognosis.

There is a good index, a glossary, and decent color plates. The
diagrams are slightly confusing (sometimes the arrows and other
indicators get lost in the picture) and have been placed at the back of
the book where they are relatively inaccessible. However, these minor
flaws do not detract from the overall usefulness of this informative
book.