Imagine going through life unaware that your vision is slowly deteriorating until the damage is irreversible. This is the frightening reality for many people with glaucoma, an eye condition that often strikes without warning.

Known as the ‘silent thief of sight,’ glaucoma gradually damages the optic nerve, leading to permanent vision loss if not caught early.

Are you concerned about your eye health? Wondering what the signs and symptoms of glaucoma are? Want to know more about the treatments and prevention?

In this blog, Karetrip will explain what you need to know to stay one step ahead of this stealthy eye disease and preserve your precious sight.

Understanding Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. It is a chronic condition that affects people of all ages, though it is more common in older adults. To understand glaucoma more deeply, it's essential to first grasp how the disease affects the eye.

The eye contains a fluid called aqueous humor, which normally flows out of the eye through a mesh-like channel. When this channel becomes blocked, or the eye produces too much fluid, the fluid builds up, increasing intraocular pressure (IOP).

This increased pressure damages the optic nerve, which is responsible for sending visual information to the brain. As this damage worsens, glaucoma progresses, leading to vision loss.

Why Early Detection Is Key

One of the most concerning aspects of glaucoma is its stealthy progression. Often, people don’t realize they have it until they start losing vision. By the time symptoms appear, significant, irreversible damage has already occurred.

However, early detection and treatment can slow or stop the disease's progression, making regular eye check-ups vital, particularly for those at higher risk.

The earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome. Glaucoma treatment can prevent further damage, but it cannot restore lost vision. Therefore, recognizing early signs and symptoms is essential to prevent blindness.

Types of Glaucoma and Their Early Signs

1. Open-Angle Glaucoma

This is the most common form of glaucoma, accounting for about 90% of cases. Open-angle glaucoma develops gradually as fluid drainage from the eye becomes less efficient over time. It often presents no symptoms until the disease has progressed significantly, making it difficult for people to notice any changes in their vision in the early stages.

Early Signs and Symptoms

• Gradual Loss of Peripheral Vision: The first symptom is usually the loss of peripheral (side) vision. You may not notice this right away because the central vision remains unaffected in the early stages. By the time you experience vision problems, the disease has already caused permanent damage.

• Blind Spots: Blind spots may begin to appear in your field of vision. These spots are often subtle, but over time, they may expand and affect your ability to see clearly.

• Difficulty Adjusting to Low Light: You might experience trouble seeing in dim lighting, which can be an early indicator of optic nerve damage.

• Subtle Eye Discomfort: Some individuals may notice vague eye discomfort, though this is not always a reliable indicator of glaucoma.

2. Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Also known as closed-angle or narrow-angle glaucoma, this form occurs when the iris bulges forward, narrowing or blocking the drainage angle formed by the cornea and iris.

This prevents aqueous humor from draining out of the eye, causing a sudden spike in eye pressure. Angle-closure glaucoma can come on very quickly and is a medical emergency.

Early Signs and Symptoms

• Severe Eye Pain: Sudden, intense pain in one or both eyes is a hallmark symptom of acute angle-closure glaucoma.

• Blurry Vision: Vision can become blurry rapidly.

• Halos Around Lights: You may see rainbow-colored halos around lights, particularly in dim environments.

• Redness in the Eye: The affected eye may become red and irritated.

• Nausea and Vomiting: The intense eye pain can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

• Sudden Loss of Vision: If left untreated, angle-closure glaucoma can lead to blindness in a matter of days.

3. Normal-Tension Glaucoma

In this type of glaucoma, optic nerve damage occurs despite normal intraocular pressure. While less common, it is still a significant cause of vision loss.

Early Signs and Symptoms

• Gradual Loss of Peripheral Vision: Similar to open-angle glaucoma, peripheral vision is often affected first.

• Difficulty with Vision at Night: You might find it increasingly difficult to see in low-light conditions.

• Frequent Headaches or Eye Pain: Some individuals experience frequent headaches or a vague, persistent eye pain.

4. Congenital Glaucoma

This rare form of glaucoma affects infants and young children and is often due to a developmental issue with the eye’s drainage system.

Early Signs and Symptoms

• Enlarged Eyes: Infants with congenital glaucoma often have larger-than-normal eyes.

• Cloudy Corneas: The cornea may appear cloudy or hazy, affecting the child’s vision.

• Excessive Tearing: Parents might notice their baby’s eyes are excessively watery.

• Sensitivity to Light: Infants may be unusually sensitive to bright lights and often squint or close their eyes tightly in response.

5. Secondary Glaucoma

This type of glaucoma results from another eye condition, such as injury, inflammation, or long-term steroid use.

Early Signs and Symptoms

• Blurry Vision: Vision can become blurred or distorted, especially if inflammation is involved.

• Eye Redness and Pain: There may be noticeable redness and discomfort in the eye, especially following trauma or infection.

• Halos Around Lights: Similar to angle-closure glaucoma, seeing halos around lights can be an early sign.

Risk Factors for Glaucoma

Certain factors increase the likelihood of developing glaucoma. While anyone can develop this condition, people with the following risk factors should be particularly vigilant about regular eye exams

• Age: Glaucoma is more common in people over the age of 60, although it can develop earlier.

• Family History: A family history of glaucoma increases your risk, especially if close relatives have been diagnosed with the condition.

• Ethnicity: African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics have a higher risk of developing certain types of glaucoma.African Americans are more likely to develop open-angle glaucoma at an earlier age.Asians are at increased risk for angle-closure glaucoma.Hispanics over age 60 have an elevated risk of developing glaucoma.

• High Intraocular Pressure: Elevated intraocular pressure is one of the primary risk factors for glaucoma, though normal-pressure glaucoma is also possible.

• Pre-existing Medical Conditions: People with conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are more likely to develop glaucoma.

• Severe Nearsightedness or Farsightedness: People with extreme refractive errors are more likely to develop glaucoma.

• Eye Injury or Surgery: Trauma or surgery can increase the risk of secondary glaucoma.

• Long-term Use of Corticosteroids: Prolonged use of steroid medications, especially eye drops, can increase the likelihood of developing secondary glaucoma.

Diagnosis of Glaucoma

Diagnosing glaucoma early is essential for preventing irreversible damage. Comprehensive eye exams are the most effective way to detect glaucoma, especially in its early stages when symptoms are not yet apparent.

• Tonometry: This test measures the intraocular pressure in the eye. Elevated pressure may indicate glaucoma.

• Ophthalmoscopy: This allows the doctor to examine the optic nerve for any damage.

• Perimetry (Visual Field Test): This test assesses peripheral vision to detect any vision loss.

• Gonioscopy: This test helps determine whether the drainage angle is open or closed.

• Pachymetry: It measures the thickness of the cornea, which can affect intraocular pressure readings.

Regular screenings are recommended for people over age 40, especially those at higher risk.

Treatment for Glaucoma

While there is no cure for glaucoma, treatment can help slow its progression and preserve vision. Treatment options depend on the type and stage of glaucoma and include

• Eye Drops: Prescription eye drops are often the first line of treatment. These drops help lower eye pressure by either reducing the production of aqueous humor or improving its drainage.

• Oral Medications: If eye drops are not sufficient, oral medications can be prescribed to further lower eye pressure.

• Laser Surgery: Procedures like trabeculoplasty, iridotomy, or cyclophotocoagulation can help improve fluid drainage or reduce fluid production.

• Traditional Surgery: In some cases, surgical procedures like trabeculectomy or drainage implant surgery are necessary to create new drainage pathways or remove part of the eye's tissue to lower pressure.

• Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS): These newer procedures offer a safer and less invasive alternative to traditional surgeries with a shorter recovery time.

The information provided represents the views and opinions of Karetrip. It is crucial to conduct your own independent research before making any decisions regarding your healthcare journey.