Protecting Your Vision: Glaucoma Explained

Ibrahim Ahmed Cherif, BHSc, MD(c)

Jun 15

3 min read

What is Glaucoma?

Think of your eye like a camera.

It captures images and sends them to your brain through a cable called the optic nerve. This nerve is what allows you to see the world clearly.

Glaucoma is a condition where this “cable” slowly gets damaged.

In many cases, this happens because of pressure building up inside the eye. But sometimes, the nerve can be damaged even when the pressure seems normal [1].

The tricky part? Glaucoma often develops silently, without pain or obvious symptoms [1].

What Causes Glaucoma?

Your eye is constantly producing fluid. This fluid helps keep the eye healthy and nourished.

Now imagine a sink:

The faucet is always running.

The drain lets water flow out.

In glaucoma, the “drain” doesn’t work properly. So what happens as a result?

Fluid builds up
Pressure increases
The optic nerve gets damaged over time [1]

There are different types:

Open-angle glaucoma → slow, most common [1]
Angle-closure glaucoma → sudden, less common but urgent [2]

Common Symptoms

In the early stages, most people feel completely fine. There are usually no warning signs. However, as glaucoma progresses, you may notice [1]:

Loss of side (peripheral) vision
Trouble seeing things off to the side
Blurry or “tunnel” vision

In a rare but serious type (acute glaucoma), symptoms can come on suddenly [2]:

Severe eye pain
Red eye
Blurry vision
Seeing halos around lights
Nausea or vomiting

If any of these happen, go to the ER right away!

Who Is at Risk for Glaucoma?

Glaucoma can happen to anyone, but some people are at higher risk.

You may be more likely to develop it if you:

Are over 40
Have a family history of glaucoma
Have diabetes or high blood pressure
Are of African, Asian, or Hispanic background
Use steroid medications for a long time
Have had an eye injury [3]

Diagnosing Glaucoma

Even if you feel fine, you can still have glaucoma, and so how do doctors diagnose glaucoma?

Glaucoma is usually found during a routine eye exam and is often found before you notice any symptoms [4].

Your doctor may:

Measure the pressure in your eye
Check your side vision
Look at your optic nerve
Take images of your eye
Test how fluid drains from your eye

These tests are quick and painless.

Treatment Options

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. The goal is simple: lower the pressure and protect your vision [4].

Treatment may include:

Eye drops
The most common treatment
Help reduce pressure in your eye
Medications
Sometimes used if drops are not enough
Laser treatment (helps fluid drain better)
Surgery
Creates a new pathway for fluid to leave the eye

When to Seek Help

Call your doctor if:

Your vision is changing
You have trouble seeing at night
You have a family history of glaucoma

Go to the ER immediately if you have:

Sudden eye pain
Red eye with blurred vision
Halos around lights
Nausea with eye symptoms

Prevention

You cannot always prevent glaucoma, but you can catch it early [4].

Here’s what helps:

Get regular eye exams (especially after age 40)
Manage conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure
Protect your eyes from injury
Take medications exactly as prescribed

Early detection can make a huge difference.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I feel fine, do I still need to worry about glaucoma?

Yes. Glaucoma often has no symptoms at first.

Can glaucoma cause blindness?

Yes, but early treatment can prevent this.

Does high eye pressure always mean glaucoma?

Not always. But it does increase your risk.

How often should I get my eyes checked?

Usually every 1–2 years, or more often if you are at higher risk.

Sources:

Joshi P, Dangwal A, Guleria I, et al. Glaucoma in Adults-diagnosis, Management, and Prediagnosis to End-stage, Categorizing Glaucoma's Stages: A Review. J Curr Glaucoma Pract. 2022;16(3):170-178. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10078-1388
Nüssle S, Reinhard T, Lübke J. Acute Closed-Angle Glaucoma-an Ophthalmological Emergency. Dtsch Arztebl Int. Published online November 12, 2021. doi:10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0264
McMonnies CW. Glaucoma history and risk factors. J Optom. 2017;10(2):71-78. doi:10.1016/j.optom.2016.02.003
Schuster AK, Erb C, Hoffmann EM, Dietlein T, Pfeiffer N. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2020;117(13):225-234. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2020.0225

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Medical Disclaimer: HealthDecoded content is for education only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider.