Silent Thief of Sight Called "the silent thief," glaucoma is an eye disease afflicting an estimated three million people in the United States and more than 69 million world wide. It is most prevalent in individuals age 65 and older. There are no warning signs of early-stage glaucoma and it is not until the disease is advanced -- and the eye is going blind -- that symptoms appear. Glaucoma is only one of three eye diseases that becomes more common as a person ages. Mechanics of Open-Angle Glaucoma Click here to watch video animation Click here to see a Vision for Vision presentation