What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a common ailment that harms the eye’s optic nerve. The condition gradually worsens as you age. It is hereditary and is often associated with intraocular pressure buildup or pressure inside the eye. Most patients do not experience the condition until later in life.

Glaucoma causes damage to your optic nerve due to excessive intraocular pressure. Since the optic nerve sends images to your brain, it can result in permanent vision loss. In severe circumstances, it can lead to total blindness.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

There are several kinds of glaucoma. However, the most common types are angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Common Symptoms of Angle-closure Glaucoma

ACG occurs when you experience the closure of the angle in many or most areas of your eye. It increases eye pressure, leading to optic nerve damage. It may also result in loss of vision. The rise in intraocular pressure can happen gradually or abruptly via an acute angle-closure attack. Symptoms of glaucoma after such an acute attack are noticeable, and damage occurs fast. Some of its symptoms include:

• Sudden loss of sight

• Severe head and eye pain

• Vomiting or nausea from severe eye pain

• Blurred or hazy vision

• The appearance of rainbows and halos around bright light sources

• Redness of the eye

If you notice any of the symptoms above, you should seek the attention of an ophthalmologist, like one of the experienced ophthalmologists at Santa Barbara Eyecare.

Symptoms of Primary Open-angle Glaucoma

There are often no early symptoms of POAG. Unlike ACG, this type of glaucoma develops slowly. Many people rarely notice any obvious signs of vision loss for many years. They usually feel fine and do not experience any vision changes at first. It is often because their initial vision change comes from peripheral vision loss. 

However, their sharpness of vision or visual acuity remains intact until the condition’s late stages. When most patients experience vision loss, the POAG is often quite advanced. Unfortunately, vision loss from this condition is irreversible even with surgical procedures.

Because POAG has few or no early symptoms before the damage exhibits, it is prudent to get regular comprehensive eye exams. Early detected glaucoma is treatable using preventative options to help protect your vision.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

Some people are at a higher risk of glaucoma than others. The condition often affects adults aged 40 years and above. But infants, children, and young adults can get glaucoma in rare cases. You are also more likely to get glaucoma if:

• You are farsighted or nearsighted

• You have diabetes

• You have poor vision

• You are of Irish, Japanese, Inuit, African American, Scandinavian, or Russian descent

• You use steroid medications like prednisone

• Your corneas are too thin

• You have heart disease, sickle cell anemia, or high blood pressure

• You had an eye injury

For more on glaucoma or to schedule an evaluation, call Santa Barbara Eyecare at our offices in Santa Barbara at (805) 967-9990 or Goleta a (805) 451-8180.