Are There Glaucoma Warning Signs?

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Posted by: Missouri Eye Institute in Blog on January 9, 2020

Are you starting to have problems using your peripheral vision in both eyes? Do you often get intense headaches and nauseous?

These could be a sign that you have glaucoma. Let’s take a look at what the warning signs of glaucoma are.

What is Glaucoma?

There are a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, and glaucoma is one of them. The optic nerve is imperative for good vision. 

Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve due to too much fluid in the eye and unusually high pressure in the eye.

For adults who are 60 and up, glaucoma is one of the main causes of blindness. Anyone can get glaucoma, but it is more probable for older adults to get it. 

Glaucoma is sneaky. Most of the types of glaucoma have no warning signs, which is why it can sneak up on you and steal your vision. 

It is possible that you may not notice the changes in your vision until it is too late. 

Damage to your vision from glaucoma is not reversible. Once you have lost your vision to glaucoma, it cannot come back.  

Eye exams are important because they allow your eye doctor to measure your eye pressure. This gives them a baseline for your eye pressure, and they will notice when it changes. 

This is crucial if you have glaucoma. It allows them to make an early diagnosis and start treatment. With early diagnosis, vision loss from glaucoma can be avoided or prevented.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Glaucoma can be categorized into two main types: acute angle-closure and open-angle glaucoma.

Acute angle-closure Glaucoma: 

With acute angle-closure glaucoma, there are noticeable symptoms. These include headaches, eye pain, nausea and vomiting, blurry vision, halos around lights, and red eyes.

Open-angle Glaucoma: 

In the later stages of open-angle glaucoma, you will experience tunnel vision. Blind spots in your peripheral or central vision can occur on and off for some individuals. 

This happens in both eyes. If you recognize any of these symptoms, you need to book an appointment with your eye doctor. If left untreated, glaucoma will cause blindness. 

Risk Factors for Glaucoma and Reducing Your Chances Of Developing It

Before you even notice it, glaucoma in its advanced stages causes blindness. Risk factors to pay attention to are: 

• Being age 60 or older
• Having unusually high eye pressure
• Being Hispanic, Asian or African American
• Having a family history of glaucoma
• Being nearsighted or farsighted
• Medical conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease
• Small corneas in the center of your lens
• Experiencing an eye injury or eye surgery side effect
• Using steroid eye drops for a prolonged period of time.

It is possible to prevent vision loss or delay the impact of glaucoma. It is important to get regular eye exams to diagnose glaucoma symptoms early on. 

If glaucoma runs in your family, you are at an increased risk of developing it. Regular eye exams help check your eyes and any symptoms. One way to reduce eye pressure is to exercise. 

If your doctor prescribes prescription eye drops, you need to use them as prescribed. Experiencing a serious eye injury can cause glaucoma. 

While playing contact sports or using power tools, you should wear protective eyewear.  

Do you think you have glaucoma? If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it’s time to see an eye doctor! Schedule an appointment at Missouri Eye Institute in Springfield, MO today!