Symptoms of Glaucoma

Untreated and advanced glaucoma can cause:

• Blind spots in your peripheral vision
• Tunnel vision
• Complete blindness

Most types of glaucoma do not have clear signs until excessive damage of the optic nerve has occurred.  Regular eye examinations will enable you to prevent or slow down the progression of the disease and therefore it is essential that you do not wait for noticeable eye problems. 
Signs and symptoms, which you may notice include:

• Family history of the disease
• Loss of peripheral vision (open angle glaucoma)
• Blind spots
• Unstable prescription
• Difficulty in seeing in low light
• Blurred vision
• Uncomfortable, sore, red eyes and even sometimes, severe pain (in the case of acute closed angle glaucoma)
• Halos around lights
• Headaches
• Nausea & Vomiting

Open Angle Glaucoma Symptoms

Open angle glaucoma typically affects people over the age of 50. At first, a person with open angle glaucoma has no symptoms; the condition causes no pain, and vision stays normal.

 

However, as the condition progresses, a person with open angle glaucoma may notice a gradual failure of side vision (objects in front may be clear, but objects to the side may be missed). This may seem similar to looking into a tunnel.

 

If left untreated, glaucoma can begin to cause a loss of straight-ahead vision and eventually lead to irreversible blindness.

Symptoms of Angle Closure Glaucoma

Primary angle-closure glaucoma (also known as acute glaucoma) is another form of glaucoma (see Types of Glaucoma). Unlike symptoms seen with open angle glaucoma, symptoms with this type begin suddenly and violently.

 

In angle closure glaucoma, the fluid at the front of the eye cannot reach the angle and leave the eye. The angle gets blocked by part of the iris. People with this type of glaucoma have a sudden increase in eye pressure.

 

As a result, signs and symptoms of angle closure glaucoma include:

 

• Severe pain
• Nausea
• Redness of the eye
• Blurred vision.
   

If you have these symptoms, you need to seek treatment immediately. This is a medical emergency. If your doctor is unavailable, go to the nearest hospital or clinic.

Posted in: Symptoms of Glaucoma