Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, yet far too often the condition goes undetected until it is too late. Here’s how to spot the symptoms early and then get the right treatment
More than 700,000 people in the UK have glaucoma and half of them don’t know they have it. If glaucoma is left undetected and not treated early, it can lead to loss of vision. In fact, you could lose up to 40 per cent of your vision without even knowing
Glaucoma is a common eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged and it’s sometimes referred to as the ‘silent thief of sight’. It’s usually caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye.
It can affect people of all ages but is most common in adults in their 70s and 80s. It’s already the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the number of people living with glaucoma in the UK is expected to increase by 44 per cent over the next 20 years.
It runs in families and there’s at least a four-times higher risk of developing glaucoma if you have a close blood relative who has it. And even having a more distant relative with glaucoma can give you some increased risk. This means it’s even more important to have your eyes tested regularly.
Types of glaucoma
There are several types of glaucoma:
1. Primary open-angle glaucoma: This is the most common type of glaucoma and occurs when the drainage channels in the eye become clogged over time, causing gradual pressure build-up.
2. Acute angle-closure glaucoma: This is a less common but more urgent type. It occurs when the drainage angle between the iris and cornea becomes suddenly blocked. This can lead to a rapid increase in eye pressure, causing severe pain and sudden vision loss.
3 Secondary glaucoma: This type of glaucoma develops as a result of another eye condition, such as inflammation, trauma or perhaps due to medication.
4. Developmental glaucoma: This is a rare form of glaucoma that affects infants and young children.
Symptoms of glaucoma
The symptoms of glaucoma vary depending on the type and stage of the disease. Initially there may be no noticeable symptoms but as the disease progresses, the following signs may appear:
- Blurred vision
- Rings or halos around lights
- Reading, driving or moving about becoming more difficult
- Severe eye pain
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
Treatments
While glaucoma cannot be cured, treatments are available to slow the progression of the disease, protect the optic nerve, and prevent vision loss. The main goal of treatment is to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP).
These treatment methods include medication, laser therapy and surgery. Early detection is critical because timely treatment can prevent irreversible vision loss in most cases.
The most important aspect of managing glaucoma is early detection and the only way to tell if you have most types of glaucoma is through an eye test at an optician’s. So, what are you waiting for?