If you don’t know what Glaucoma is, it’s time to get up to speed. Glaucoma is a very misunderstood disease. Often, people don’t realize the severity or who is affected. Early detection and treatment of glaucoma is critical to prevent vision loss. We can detect Glaucoma during a Visual Field Test to stop it in its tracks before any permanent damage is done.
Glaucoma is a common eye disease that is often genetic. It is caused by high intraocular pressure in the eye’s drainage sytem.
- 1. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness
- 2. There is no cure (yet) for glaucoma
- 3. Everyone is at risk for glaucoma
- 4. There may be no symptoms to warn you
Luke Arundel, Chief Clinical Officer for Optometry Australia says that glaucoma is often nicknamed the ‘silent thief of sight’ because peripheral vision loss occurs at such a gradual pace, it often goes unnoticed until it’s too late.
“Glaucoma cannot be self-detected. In most cases there are no symptoms or early warning signs to let you know there is something wrong with your eyes. The only way to check if you have glaucoma is to have an eye exam including an optic nerve check which is simple and completely pain-free.”
Are you at risk of Glaucoma? Check the following risk factors:
- Have a family history of glaucoma
- Have high eye pressure
- Are aged over 50
- Are of African or Asian descent
- Have diabetes
- Are short or long sighted
- Have been on a prolonged course of cortisone (steroid) medication
- Experience migraines
- Have had an eye operation or eye injury
- Have a history of high or low blood pressure
Do you have any of the symptoms?
The most common form of glaucoma starts with the loss of side vision (peripheral vision). There is no pain or discomfort associated with it. The lack of symptoms makes early detection difficult. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:
- Painless blurred vision
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Difficulty adjusting to low light
If you have any of the Glaucoma symptoms or identify with any of the risk factors, we recommend that you get an eye test to ensure that your eyes are healthy. Remember, prevention is the best cure!