Glaucoma is an eye disease that gradually deteriorates your vision by causing damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma usually has no symptoms in its early stages and without proper treatment, glaucoma can lead to blindness. The good news is that with regular eye exams, early detection, and treatment, you can preserve your sight.
Am I at Risk for Glaucoma?
Anyone can get glaucoma, but some people are at higher risk than others. If you are over the age of 60, are of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent, have relatives with glaucoma, have high eye pressure, or have had an eye injury, you are at greater risk of developing glaucoma.
Glaucoma symptoms vary by the type of glaucoma. The most common type of glaucoma (open-angle glaucoma) often has no uncomfortable or painful symptoms other than gradual vision loss that can go unnoticed for years.
- By the time a person is aware of vision loss, the disease is usually quite advanced.
- Because glaucoma has few warning signs or symptoms in its early stages, it is important to see a doctor for regular eye exams.
- If glaucoma is detected, your eye doctor can prescribe treatment to help protect your vision.
Angle-closure glaucoma, although less common, is a medical emergency and its symptoms include:
- Hazy or blurred vision
- Severe eye and head pain
- Nausea or vomiting (accompanying severe eye pain)
- Appearance of rainbow-colored circles around bright lights
- Sudden sight loss
What Causes Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that develops when the optic nerve becomes damaged. As this nerve and its axons gradually deteriorate, blind spots develop in your vision. Although we don’t have all the answers for what causes glaucoma yet, risk factors include:
- Elevated eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
- Large optic nerve (or thinning of the optic nerve)
- Closed drainage angle of the eye
- Thin cornea
- Family history of glaucoma
- African, Hispanic, or Asian descent
Glaucoma can also be caused by a secondary factor such as trauma, another illness, or certain medications.
How Do I Get Tested for Glaucoma?
To test for glaucoma, visit an eye doctor for a complete eye exam that includes five common, painless tests to detect glaucoma. Regular eye exams are essential because most people don’t experience any symptoms or early warning signs. The doctor will check your eye pressure, examine your optic nerve (dilated eye exam), test your field of vision, measure the thickness of your cornea, and examine the angle in your eye where the iris meets the cornea.
How Do I Treat Glaucoma?
Fortunately, effective glaucoma treatments are now available. From eye drop medications to laser treatments to surgery, these solutions control eye pressure, the main cause of vision loss in glaucoma. New approaches are continuously being developed and evaluated.
For more information visit www.glaucoma.org.