Which of the following is a potential consequence of untreated glaucoma?

Untreated glaucoma can lead to significant damage to the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain. As the condition progresses, it can result in a gradual loss of vision, often starting with peripheral vision and potentially advancing to more severe impairments. If left unmanaged, this damage can culminate in permanent blindness. This outcome occurs because the increased intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma can harm the delicate nerve fibers and lead to irreversible changes in vision.

In contrast, improved night vision, increased peripheral vision, and color blindness do not represent typical consequences of untreated glaucoma. Night vision can actually deteriorate as glaucoma progresses, and the loss of peripheral vision is a hallmark of the disease. Color blindness is generally unrelated to glaucoma and typically results from genetic factors affecting the cones in the retina. Therefore, permanent blindness is the correct understanding of the potential severe outcome of untreated glaucoma.