Which condition, distinct from cataracts, is described as an insidious threat that builds silently over years?
Glaucoma
The text establishes a differentiation between acute threats to vision and insidious threats. Cataracts are often viewed as acute because vision declines noticeably, prompting an individual to seek treatment promptly. In contrast, conditions like Glaucoma and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) are classified as insidious threats because they develop slowly and silently over many years, often causing significant structural damage before any noticeable symptoms arise. Glaucoma, specifically, attacks the optic nerve via rising intraocular pressure, typically impairing peripheral awareness first, meaning patients often do not realize the condition is advanced until substantial vision has already been lost due to this slow, silent progression.
