Word
glaucoma
Phoneticsglau·co·ma
US/ɡɫɔˈkoʊmə/
UK/ɡlɔːkˈəʊmɐ/
Definition
n. a medical condition where pressure builds up inside your eye. If it is not treated, it can damage your vision and even cause blindness.
n. a group of eye conditions characterised by damage to the optic nerve, typically caused by abnormally high intraocular pressure. Left untreated, it leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss.
Examples
“Regular eye exams can help detect glaucoma early.”
“The doctor prescribed daily eye drops to manage the patient's glaucoma and prevent further nerve damage.”
“Because glaucoma often presents without early symptoms, it is frequently referred to as the silent thief of sight, making routine screenings essential for those with a family history of the condition.”
Examples
simple
“Regular eye exams can help detect glaucoma early.”
contextual
“The doctor prescribed daily eye drops to manage the patient's glaucoma and prevent further nerve damage.”
complex
“Because glaucoma often presents without early symptoms, it is frequently referred to as the silent thief of sight, making routine screenings essential for those with a family history of the condition.”
Usage
Usually uncountable when referring to the disease; can be countable when referring to specific clinical types.
Real-World Examples
“The findings could also help guide research into eye diseases including macular degeneration and glaucoma.” “I will be screened for a range of different conditions, including skin cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, eye conditions like glaucoma, as well as kidney and blood disorders.” Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek γλαύκωμα (glaúkōma, “an opacity of the crystalline lens”), derived from γλαυκός (glaukós, “blue-green”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/glaucoma