Here are common questions patients ask about glaucoma:
What are the symptoms of glaucoma?
Most people with open-angle glaucoma don’t have symptoms. If symptoms do develop, they are usually late in the disease. That’s why glaucoma is often called the “sneak thief of vision.” The main sign is usually loss of side, or peripheral, vision.
Open-angle glaucoma usually affects both eyes, and the only real symptom is a gradual loss of peripheral vision. This loss is so gradual that it usually isn’t noticed until significant damage has already occurred.
Closed-angle glaucoma can cause short episodes of symptoms or severe acute onset of symptoms and usually affects only one eye at a time.
Symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma usually come on faster and are more obvious. Damage can occur quickly. If you have any of these symptoms, get medical care right away:
Seeing halos around lights
Redness in your eye
Vision loss
Eye that looks hazy
Eye pain
Upset Stomach or vomiting
If there are no symptoms, how is glaucoma diagnosed?
Testing for glaucoma is part of a regular eye exam. Therefore, keeping up with your annual eye exams is key to early detection and prevention of vision loss.
Can glaucoma be prevented?
Unfortunately, glaucoma can’t be prevented, but with early detection and proper treatment, it can be controlled, greatly reducing the chances of damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.