Glaucoma is a condition that can cause permanent vision loss and blindness without timely treatment. Knowing the early signs is crucial in order to stay ahead of glaucoma and prevent significant vision loss.
Keep reading to learn more about glaucoma and the four early warning signs you shouldn’t ignore!
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma refers to a group of eye disorders that cause damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers that sends visual information from your eyes to the brain.
The brain then translates the signals received into the images you see. Damage to the optic nerve is irreversible and can result in permanent vision loss and blindness.
While glaucoma has no cure, catching the condition early can limit its progression and preserve your remaining sight.
What are the Different Types of Glaucoma?
The key types of glaucoma to be aware of are open-angle and acute-angle closure. Open-angle is the more common type and causes gradual damage to the optic nerve.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is less common and comes on fast. In this form of glaucoma, fluid accumulates quickly, causing an abrupt increase in your intraocular pressure, also called IOP or eye pressure.
Angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency because it can cause irreparable vision loss very fast.
What are the Early Signs of Glaucoma?
Spotting the early signs of glaucoma can be challenging because the onset of symptoms is usually gradual and subtle. However, there are symptoms you can look out for that should prompt a visit to your eye doctor to prevent further vision loss.
These include:
1. Gradual Loss of Peripheral Vision
If you can no longer see objects or people from the corner of your eye like you used to, you may have glaucoma. One of the early signs of glaucoma is loss of peripheral or side vision.
Your peripheral vision can affect your mobility and nighttime vision. You may have peripheral vision loss if you’ve experienced the following:
- Falling
- Poor night vision
- Bumping into objects
- Trouble navigating crowded areas
See your eye doctor as soon as you notice any loss of peripheral vision. While vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored, your eye doctor can prevent further vision loss if the condition is detected early and treated promptly.
2. Seeing Halos Around Lights
Halos are white or colored rings around light sources. They’re most noticeable at night and could be a sign of glaucoma.
If you see halos around headlights and streetlights, it’s crucial to stop driving until you visit your eye doctor to determine the underlying cause. Halos can be distracting and make it difficult to see clearly at night, putting you and other road users at risk.
3. Severe Eye Pain
Sudden, intense pain could be a sign of acute angle-closure glaucoma. The pain can be accompanied by decreased vision, nausea, and vomiting.
Angle-closure glaucoma is an emergency that requires urgent treatment to prevent irreversible vision loss.
4. Headache
In addition to eye pain, acute angle-closure glaucoma can cause headaches. The headache may be felt around or in the eyes and forehead and can be a warning sign of increased intraocular pressure.
Headaches as a result of glaucoma are typically more severe in angle-closure glaucoma. If you develop an abrupt and intense headache, call your eye doctor immediately to protect your vision. VisionPoint Eye Center always has an eye doctor on call for eye emergencies.
Do you have early warning signs of glaucoma? Schedule an appointment at VisionPoint Eye Center in Bloomington, IL, today!
