50% of people with glaucoma don't know they have the disease. There is no cure (yet) for glaucoma, but if it's caught early, you can preserve your vision and prevent vision loss.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a general term for a number of eye conditions that progressively damage the optic nerve, consequently causing vision loss.
There is currently no cure for Glaucoma. However, if it is caught early on, it is possible to prevent future eyesight loss.
What are the early warning signs of Glaucoma?
Typically, Glaucoma has no symptoms early on. However, you can be tested for it even without symptoms. Your doctor will test for:
Tonometry (Measure of the pressure inside of the eye)
Ophthalmoscopy (Shape and color of optic nerve)
Perimetry (Measure of your field of vision)
Gonioscopy (Examination of where the iris meets the cornea)
Pachymetry (Measure of the thickness of cornea)
What causes Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is the result of damage to the optic nerve. As this nerve gradually deteriorates, blind spots develop in your visual field. For reasons that doctors don't fully understand, this nerve damage is usually related to increased pressure in the eye.
Glaucoma tends to run in families. In some people, scientists have identified genes related to high eye pressure and optic nerve damage.
What happens when a person has Glaucoma?
If not treated, Glaucoma can cause vision loss and blindness
Glaucoma Treatments
Doctors use 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. Treatment won’t undo any damage to your vision, but it can stop it from getting worse. Treatments include:
Medication
Laser procedures
Surgery
Learn more on the National Eye Institute's Glaucoma resource pages.
Glaucoma Quick Facts
Glaucoma is a general term for a number of eye conditions that progressively damage the optic nerve
Glaucoma can cause vision loss and blindness
Glaucoma typically has no symptoms, but can be discovered through regular eye exams
Glaucoma Risk Factors
Because chronic forms of glaucoma can destroy vision before any signs or symptoms are apparent, be aware of these risk factors:
Having high internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
Being over age 60
Being black, Asian or Hispanic
Having a family history of glaucoma
Having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sickle cell anemia
Having corneas that are thin in the center
Being extremely nearsighted or farsighted
Having had an eye injury or certain types of eye surgery
Taking corticosteroid medications, especially eyedrops, for a long time
Glaucoma Resources:
Visions Health: Glaucoma (CDC)
Testing for Glaucoma (Glaucoma Research Foundation)
Learn About Eye Health: Glaucoma (National Eye Institute)