07/10/2026
Glaucoma:
Causes, Signs & Management
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, often because pressure inside the eye is too high.
Vision loss from glaucoma is usually permanent, but early detection and treatment can help prevent further damage.
🟣 Peripheral Vision Loss
➟ Chronic glaucoma often affects side vision first
➟ Vision loss usually develops gradually and may go unnoticed for a long time
➟ Without treatment, the visual field can become progressively narrower
🟣 Often No Early Symptoms
➟ Open-angle glaucoma, the most common type, is often silent in the early stages
➟ Many people feel completely well while optic-nerve damage is developing
➟ Regular eye examinations are therefore very important
🟣 Blurred or Reduced Vision
➟ Vision may become blurred or reduced as glaucoma progresses
➟ Difficulty seeing in dim light or noticing missing areas of vision may develop
➟ Significant visual loss usually means the disease is already more advanced
🟣 Sudden Eye Pain — Emergency Warning
➟ Acute angle-closure glaucoma can cause sudden severe eye pain
➟ The eye may become red, and vision may become blurred
➟ Headache, nausea, vomiting, or seeing halos around lights may also occur
➟ This is an eye emergency and needs immediate treatment
🟣 High Eye Pressure
➟ Raised intraocular pressure (IOP) is an important risk factor for glaucoma
➟ However, some people develop glaucoma despite having eye pressure within the normal range
➟ High pressure alone does not always mean a person has glaucoma
🟣 Increasing Age
➟ Glaucoma becomes more common with increasing age
➟ Risk rises particularly from middle age onwards
➟ Screening frequency may need to increase as people get older or develop additional risk factors
🟣 Family History
➟ Having a close relative with glaucoma increases your risk
➟ Family members of people with glaucoma should make sure they attend regular eye examinations
➟ Some forms of glaucoma have a strong inherited component
🟣 Other Risk Factors
➟ Diabetes
➟ Long-term or high-dose steroid treatment
➟ Previous eye injury or eye surgery
➟ Certain anatomical features of the eye
➟ Severe short-sightedness or long-sightedness can increase risk in some forms
➟ Some ethnic groups have a higher risk of particular types of glaucoma
🟣 How Glaucoma Is Diagnosed
➟ Tonometry measures pressure inside the eye
➟ Examination and imaging of the optic nerve help detect structural damage
➟ Visual-field testing checks for areas of missing peripheral vision
➟ Corneal thickness and the drainage angle of the eye may also be assessed
➟ Diagnosis is based on the overall eye examination, not eye pressure alone
🟣 Management
➟ Prescription eye drops are commonly used to lower eye pressure
➟ Drops should be taken regularly, even when there are no symptoms
➟ Laser treatment may improve fluid drainage or reduce pressure in selected patients
➟ Surgery may be needed when medicines and laser treatment do not control the disease adequately
➟ Regular follow-up is essential because glaucoma is usually a lifelong condition
🟣 Protecting Your Vision
➟ Attend recommended eye examinations, especially if you are at higher risk
➟ Use glaucoma medicines exactly as prescribed
➟ Tell your eye specialist about all medicines, including steroid tablets, inhalers, creams, or eye drops
➟ Do not stop glaucoma treatment simply because your vision feels normal
🟣 Seek Urgent Medical Care If
➟ You suddenly develop severe eye pain
➟ The eye becomes red with sudden blurred vision
➟ You see halos around lights with headache, nausea, or vomiting
➟ You experience sudden significant loss of vision
Medical disclaimer:
This information is for general educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Glaucoma can cause irreversible vision loss before symptoms appear, so regular eye examinations are especially important for people with risk factors.
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