Glaucoma is a group of progressive eye diseases usually caused by an increase of pressure in the eye that damages the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the only connection between the eyes and the brain, damage to the optic nerve is It’s one of the leading causes of preventable vision loss and blindness worldwide.
Glaucoma is known as the ‘Silent Thief of Sight’ as a Approximately 90-95% of glaucoma cases show no symptoms during the disease’s early stages. By the time symptoms are apparent, life-long vision loss has occurred.
While there is currently no cure for glaucoma, there are various ways to treat it, especially if detected early.
What Are the First Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma?
Each type of glaucoma presents itself in very different ways. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all.
Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is the most common type of glaucoma. Fluid inside the eye does not drain out of the eye properly, so the volume of pressure and fluid inside the eye increases, causing permanent damage to the optic nerve.
This form of glaucoma develops slowly and painlessly, with no obvious symptoms until the optic nerve is damaged.
During regular comprehensive eye exams, your eye doctor can detect OAG before it does irreparable damage to your optic nerve.
In acute angle-closure glaucoma (ACG), the eye’s drainage channel is suddenly blocked by the iris, causing eye pressure to increase rapidly.
If not treated immediately, the spike in udden increase in eye pressure can damage the optic nerve and result in permanent vision loss.
Common signs of acute angle-closure glaucoma include:
- Loss of peripheral vision or side vision - this usually happens first
- Blurred vision that occurs suddenly
- An eye that looks hazy, with a cornea that looks cloudy
- Nausea and vomiting accompanied by severe eye pain
- Redness in the eye, sometimes accompanied by pain
- Sudden headache around the forehead or eyes
- Sudden pain in the eye and head
- Sudden vision loss
- Seeing halos around lights
- Tunnel vision, loss of vision around the edges of your visual field
Although glaucoma cannot be prevented, early detection and monitoring of eye health can prevent or limit the vision loss caused by the disease.
At Cove Eyecare in Copperas Cove, we recommend yearly eye exams to check for vision changes and diseases such as glaucoma.
At Cove Eyecare, we put your family's needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 254-549-1142 or book an appointment online to see one of our Copperas Cove eye doctors.
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