What is glaucoma and is it real serious?

I had went to the eye doctor last week. I was prescribed with eye glasses. The eye doc said that I need to go and get a glaucoma test done, because there is a thinning in the wall in my eye. I don't know what that means, but the doc said I need to get it done and I don't know what glaucoma means.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease, so you are doing exactly the right thing. The thinning of your corneal wall may indicate damage to your optic nerve, which is why your eye doctor wants you tested. You will be sent for a glaucoma test, and if you test positive, treatment will begin.

There is no cure for glaucoma, although many scientists are working on one. However, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss, or stop it before it starts. You will likely only need eye drops on a daily basis, if indeed you do have glaucoma.

I do want to correct the post above me related to high pressure within the eye as a the cause. Although it was once thought that high pressure within the eye, (interocular pressure, or IOP) is the main cause of this optic nerve damage, we now know that other factors must also be involved because even people with 鈥渘ormal鈥?levels of pressure can experience vision loss from glaucoma. IOP is clearly a risk factor, just not the only cause.

Some other risk factors are:
Corneal wall thickness less than .5mm (your risk factor)
diabetes
hypertension
extreme nearsightedness
advanced age
use of steroids

Hope this was helpful, and best of luck

Its basically the pressure in your eyes and such, i know you can go blind if you do have it and its not treated, my mom has it and she has to put eyedrops in everyday to not go blind.