Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve—the connection that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Without treatment, the damage can cause permanent vision loss.
Illustration of possible peripheral visual-field loss in glaucoma. Credit: National Eye Institute, NIH; Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Why it is often missed
The most common form, open-angle glaucoma, usually has no symptoms at first. Vision loss begins gradually, often in the side vision, and the brain can compensate for a long time. A person may not notice a problem until significant damage has occurred.
Who is at greater risk?
- People with a family history of glaucoma
- Increasing age
- Raised eye pressure, although glaucoma can also occur with eye pressure in the usual range
- Previous eye injury, long-term steroid use, or certain eye conditions
- Diabetes, short-sightedness or other risks identified by your eye specialist
How glaucoma is detected
A complete eye examination may include eye-pressure measurement, an assessment of the optic nerve, corneal thickness measurement, a visual-field test and OCT scanning of the optic nerve. Regular review is important because the tests help show whether the condition is stable or changing.
Treatment protects remaining sight
Vision lost from glaucoma cannot currently be restored, but lowering eye pressure can slow or stop further damage. Depending on the type and severity, treatment may include daily eye drops, laser treatment or surgery. Take drops exactly as prescribed and do not stop them because the eye feels normal—glaucoma treatment often works silently.
When is it an emergency?
Seek emergency eye care immediately for a sudden painful red eye with blurred vision, halos, headache, nausea or vomiting. This may be acute angle-closure glaucoma, which requires urgent treatment.