Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve.
The symptoms can start so slowly that you may not notice them. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
There's no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision.
There are many different types of glaucoma, but the most common type in the United States is called open-angle glaucoma – that's what most people mean when they talk about glaucoma. Other types of glaucoma are less common, like angle-closure glaucoma and congenital glaucoma.
At first, glaucoma doesn't usually have any symptoms. That's why half of people with glaucoma don't even know they have it.
Over time, you may slowly lose vision, usually starting with your side (peripheral) vision – especially the part of your vision that's closest to your nose. Because it happens so slowly, many people can't tell that their vision is changing, especially at first.
But as the disease gets worse, you may start to notice that you can't see things off to the side anymore. Without treatment, glaucoma can eventually cause blindness.
Anyone can get glaucoma, but some people are at higher risk. You're at higher risk if you:
Talk with your doctor about your risk for glaucoma and ask how often you need to get checked.
Angle-closure glaucoma can cause these sudden symptoms:
If you have these symptoms, go to your doctor or an emergency room now.
Scientists aren't sure what causes the most common types of glaucoma, but many people with glaucoma have high eye pressure (intraocular pressure) – and treatments that lower eye pressure help to slow the disease.
There's no way to prevent glaucoma. That's why eye exams are so important – so you and your doctor can find it before it affects your vision.
Eye doctors can check for glaucoma as part of a comprehensive dilated eye exam. The exam is simple and painless – your doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil and then check your eyes for glaucoma and other eye problems. The exam includes a visual field test to check your peripheral (side) vision.
Doctors use a few different types of treatment for glaucoma, including medicines (usually eye drops), laser treatment, and surgery.
If you have glaucoma, it's important to start treatment right away. While it won't undo any damage to your vision, treatment can stop it from getting worse.
Medicines. Prescription eye drops are the most common treatment. They lower the pressure in your eye and prevent damage to your optic nerve.
Laser treatment. To lower pressure in your eye, doctors can use lasers to help the fluid drain out of your eye. It's a simple procedure that your doctor can do in the office.
Surgery. If medicines and laser treatment don't work, your doctor might suggest surgery. There are several different types of surgery that can help the fluid drain out of your eye.
Talk over your options with your doctor. While glaucoma is a serious disease, treatment works well. Remember these tips:
Courtesy: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH)
