Around 4.22 million Americans have glaucoma, and nearly half do not know it, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.
The disease damages the optic nerve, usually when fluid builds up inside the eye. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says most cases begin silently, without pain or obvious vision changes.
That is the paradox at the heart of glaucoma. When warning signs do appear, they often mean damage is already underway or an emergency is unfolding. Recognizing them is not a substitute for regular screening, but they always warrant a call to an eye doctor.
The signs that can appear
Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, tends to reveal itself only as vision loss begins. Angle-closure glaucoma is different. It can strike suddenly and requires immediate care. Signs across both forms include:
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- Blind spots in your peripheral (side) vision
- Tunnel vision as those blind spots enlarge
- Halos or rainbow-colored rings around lights
- Sudden blurred or hazy vision
- Severe pain in the eye or head
- Nausea or vomiting alongside eye symptoms
- A sudden loss of vision
The first two typically point to advancing open-angle disease. The National Eye Institute notes that side vision loss usually begins closest to the nose and progresses gradually.
The last five are the hallmarks of an acute angle-closure attack. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, sudden blurred vision, severe eye pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and rainbow-colored halos around lights point to an emergency that needs same-day care. Delaying treatment can cost sight within hours.
Why the silent form is the real danger
The Glaucoma Research Foundation notes that primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease, affecting about three million Americans. Because it is painless and starts at the edges of vision, people often adjust without noticing.
By the time central vision is affected, the optic nerve has usually sustained lasting damage that cannot be reversed. NIH MedlinePlus notes that there is no cure for glaucoma, though prescription eye drops, laser treatment and surgery can slow or halt further damage when the disease is caught in time.
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When to get your eyes checked
The American Academy of Ophthalmology says the only sure way to diagnose glaucoma is with a complete eye exam. A pressure check alone is not enough, the AAO notes, because some people develop optic-nerve damage at normal eye pressure.
The National Eye Institute advises people at higher risk to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years. The NEI lists the highest-risk groups as African Americans over 40, Hispanic and Latino adults over 60, and anyone with a family history of glaucoma. The AAO adds diabetes, a prior eye injury, long-term steroid use, and corneas that are thin in the center to the list of risk factors.
If any of the sudden symptoms above appear, treat it as an emergency and get to an eye doctor or emergency room the same day.
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This article is made and published by Jesper Bengtson, who may have used AI in the preparation.