What is Glaucoma? Understanding Glaucoma: The Silent Thief of Sight
Glaucoma is often referred to as the "silent thief of sight" because it can gradually steal your vision without you even realising it. This serious eye condition affects millions of people worldwide, yet many don't realise they have it until significant vision loss has already occurred.
What Exactly Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is actually a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which carries visual information from your eye to your brain. In most cases, this damage occurs when the pressure inside the eye becomes too high, although it can also happen with normal eye pressure. Think of your eye like a balloon filled with fluid - when too much fluid builds up or doesn't drain properly, the increased pressure can harm the delicate optic nerve fibres.
The most common type is primary open-angle glaucoma, which develops slowly over years. There's also angle-closure glaucoma, which can come on suddenly and is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.
Why Is Early Detection So Important?
Here's the concerning part: glaucoma typically has no early warning signs. You won't feel pain, and your vision may seem fine for years while the disease quietly progresses. By the time you notice vision changes, significant and irreversible damage may have already occurred. Vision loss from glaucoma usually starts with your peripheral (side) vision, which your brain is remarkably good at compensating for initially.
Who's at Risk?
While anyone can develop glaucoma, certain factors increase your risk:
Age: Risk increases significantly after age 60
Family history: Having relatives with glaucoma raises your risk
Ethnicity: African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians face higher risks
Medical conditions: Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease
Eye anatomy: Thin corneas or high eye pressure
Previous eye injuries or certain eye surgeries
The Good News: Prevention and Treatment
While we can't cure glaucoma, we can effectively slow or stop its progression when caught early. Treatment typically involves prescription eye drops that either reduce fluid production in the eye or improve its drainage. In some cases, laser treatments or surgery may be recommended.
The key is regular eye examinations. A comprehensive eye exam can detect glaucoma before you experience any symptoms, potentially saving your sight.
Take Action: Schedule Your Eye Exam
If you're over 40, have any risk factors, or haven't had an eye exam in the past two years, it's time to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
The College of Optometrists recommends that chronic open-angle glaucoma should be particularly considered in people over 40, and regular eye examinations are essential for early detection. During a glaucoma screening, your eye care professional will measure your eye pressure, examine your optic nerve, and may perform additional tests like visual field testing or optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Glaucoma UK emphasises the importance of regular sight tests for preventing sight loss, as the number of people living with glaucoma in the UK is expected to increase by almost a third between 2020 and 2035. Don't wait for symptoms - by then, it may be too late. Regular eye exams are one of the best investments you can make in preserving your vision for life.
The Association of Optometrists believes that utilising the optometric workforce can improve the way in which glaucoma care is delivered to patients in England, potentially saving the NHS £90 million per year in glaucoma care by 2030. Remember: early detection and treatment can help preserve the sight you have. Your future self will thank you for taking this important step today.
References and Guidelines
College of Optometrists. (2024). Clinical Management Guidelines: Glaucoma (chronic open angle) (COAG). Available at: https://www.college-optometrists.org/clinical-guidance/clinical-management-guidelines/
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2017). Glaucoma: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline [NG81]. London: NICE.
College of Optometrists. (2024). Examining patients at risk from glaucoma. Clinical guidance. Available at: https://www.college-optometrists.org/clinical-guidance/
Association of Optometrists. (2024). The role of optometry in revolutionising glaucoma care. Position statement. Available at: https://www.aop.org.uk/our-voice/policy/position-statements/
Silva, R. S., Dias, D. T., Ghahari, E., et al. (2013). There is a trend for the diagnosis of glaucoma to be made at an earlier stage in 2010 compared to 2008 in Oxford, United Kingdom. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 33(2), 179-212.
International Glaucoma Association, UK Ophthalmology Alliance, & Royal College of Ophthalmologists. (2019). Patient Standards Document for Glaucoma. London: RCOphth.