Symptoms Of Glaucoma

The symptoms of glaucoma depend on the type and stage of your condition.

Open-angle glaucoma

• No symptoms in early stages
• Gradually, patchy blind spots in your side vision. Side vision also is known as peripheral vision
• In later stages, difficulty seeing things in your central vision

Acute angle-closure glaucoma

• Severe headache
• Severe eye pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Halos or colored rings around lights
• Eye redness

Normal-tension glaucoma

• No symptoms in early stages
• Gradually, blurred vision
• In later stages, loss of side vision

Glaucoma in children

• A dull or cloudy eye (infants)
• Increased blinking (infants)
• Tears without crying (infants)
• Blurred vision
• Nearsightedness that gets worse
• Headache

Pigmentary glaucoma

• Halos around lights
• Blurred vision with exercise
• Gradual loss of side vision

When to see a doctor

If you experience symptoms that come on suddenly, you may have acute angle-closure glaucoma. Symptoms include severe headache and severe eye pain. You need treatment as soon as possible. Go to an emergency room or call an eye doctor's (ophthalmologist's) office immediately.

Risk Factors

Glaucoma can damage vision before you notice any symptoms. So be aware of these risk factors :

• High internal eye pressure, also known as intraocular pressure
• Age over 55
• Black, Asian or Hispanic heritage
• Family history of glaucoma
• Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure and sickle cell anemia
• Corneas that are thin in the center
• Extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness
• Eye injury or certain types of eye surgery
• Taking corticosteroid medicines, especially eye drops, for a long time

Some people have narrow drainage angles, putting them at increased risk of angle-closure glaucoma.

What causes glaucoma

Glaucoma can occur without any cause, but many factors can affect it. The most important of these factors is intraocular eye pressure. Your eyes produce a fluid called aqueous humor that nourishes them. This liquid flows through your pupil to the front of your eye. In a healthy eye, the fluid leaves through the drainage canals located between your iris and cornea.

With glaucoma, the resistance increases in your drainage canals. The fluid has nowhere to go, so it builds up in your eye. This excess fluid puts pressure on your eye. Eventually, this elevated eye pressure can damage your optic nerve and lead to glaucoma.

Do all glaucoma patients have symptoms

Some people have no signs of damage but have higher than normal eye pressure (called ocular hypertension). These patients are considered "glaucoma suspects" and have a higher risk of eventually developing glaucoma. Some people are considered glaucoma suspects even if their eye pressure is normal. For example, their ophthalmologist may notice something different about their optic nerve. Most glaucoma suspects have no symptoms. That is why you need to be carefully monitored by your ophthalmologist if you are a glaucoma suspect. An ophthalmologist can check for any changes over time and begin treatment if needed.

Pigment dispersion glaucoma

Pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS), happens when the pigment rubs off the back of your iris. This pigment can raise eye pressure and lead to pigmentary glaucoma. Some people with PDS or pigmentary glaucoma may see halos or have blurry vision after activities like jogging or playing basketball See your ophthalmologist if you have thes or other symptoms.

Diagnosis and tests

To check for glaucoma, an eye doctor may do one or more of these painless tests :

• Dilated eye exam to widen pupils and view your optic nerve at the back of your eyes.
• Gonioscopy to examine the angle where your iris and cornea meet.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) to look for changes in your optic nerve that may indicate glaucoma.
• Ocular pressure test (tonometry) to measure eye pressure.
• Pachymetry to measure corneal thickness.
• Slit-lamp exam to examine the inside of your eye with a special microscope called a slit lamp.
• Visual acuity test (eye charts) to check for vision loss.
• Visual field test (perimetry) to check for changes in peripheral vision (your ability to see things off to the side).

Prevention

How can I prevent glaucoma?

Early detection of glaucoma through routine eye exams is the best way to protect eye health and prevent vision loss. Glaucoma testing should occur every :

• One to three years after age 35 for people at high risk.
• Two to four years before age 40.
• One to three years between ages 40 and 54.
• One to two years between ages 55 to 64.
• Six months to 12 months after age 65.

Outlook / Prognosis

What can I expect if I have glaucoma?

Blindness is a rare complication for people with glaucoma, as long as a provider detects it early. However, glaucoma is a chronic and progressive condition that often causes some degree of vision loss over time. The earlier you catch glaucoma and start treatments, the better the odds of saving your vision. Treatments can slow down disease progression and vision loss. If you’re at high risk for glaucoma, you should get regular eye exams.

Living With Glaucoma Comman FAQs

When should I call the doctor?

You should call your healthcare provider if you experience :

• Blurred or low vision.
• Halos, eye floaters or flashers.
• Sudden, severe eye pain or headaches.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Vision loss.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider :

• Why did I get glaucoma?
• What type of glaucoma do I have?
• What’s the best treatment for the type of glaucoma I have?
• Are there any treatment risks or side effects?
• What lifestyle changes can I make to protect my vision?
• Should I watch for signs of complications?

Can Glaucoma be stopped / reversed

Glaucoma damage is permanent—it cannot be reversed. But medicine and surgery help to stop further damage. To treat glaucoma, your ophthalmologist may use one or more of the following treatments.

Treatment

Treatment aims to improve the flow of fluid from the eye, reduce fluid production, or both.

There are several ways to do this :

Medications

Glaucoma is usually controlled with eyedrop medicine. Used every day, these eye drops lower eye pressure. Some do this by reducing the amount of aqueous fluid the eye makes. Others reduce pressure by helping fluid flow better through the drainage angle.

Examples of eye drops include :

• prostaglandins
• carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
• cholinergic agents
• beta blockers
• nitric oxide releasers
• rho kinase inhibitors

Glaucoma medications can help you keep your vision, but they may also produce side effects. Some eye drops may cause :

• a stinging or itching sensation
• red eyes or red skin around the eyes
• changes in your pulse and heartbeat
• changes in your energy level
• changes in breathing (especially if you have asthma or breathing problems)
• dry mouth
• blurred vision
• eyelash growth
• changes in your eye color, the skin around your eyes or eyelid appearance

All medications can have side effects. Some drugs can cause problems when taken with other medications. It is important to give your doctor a list of every medicine you take regularly. Be sure to talk with your ophthalmologist if you think you may have side effects from glaucoma medicine.

Never change or stop taking your glaucoma medications without talking to your ophthalmologist. If you are about to run out of your medication, ask your ophthalmologist if you should have your prescription refilled.

Surgical treatment

• Trabeculectomy : This is a traditional surgical procedure used to create a new drainage channel in the eye to lower intraocular pressure. It involves creating a small flap in the sclera (white part of the eye) to allow fluid to drain out.
• Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) : MIGS encompasses a variety of procedures that are less invasive than traditional surgeries and have quicker recovery times. Examples include trabecular micro-bypass stents and canaloplasty.
• Glaucoma Drainage Devices : These are small implants placed in the eye to facilitate drainage of aqueous humor, reducing intraocular pressure. They are typically used in cases where other surgical options have failed.

Emerging Technologies

• Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) : MIGS procedures continue to evolve, with researchers developing new devices and techniques aimed at reducing intraocular pressure while minimizing risks and recovery times.
• Gene Therapy : Researchers are exploring the potential of gene therapy to treat glaucoma by targeting genes associated with increased intraocular pressure or optic nerve damage.
• Neuroprotection : Some studies are investigating neuroprotective agents that may help preserve the function of retinal ganglion cells, which are damaged in glaucoma.