01 Dec Glaucoma Awareness Month: Tests, Early Signs, and Treatment
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time to focus on protecting your vision from one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve—the part of the eye that sends visual information to your brain. Most forms develop when fluid in the eye doesn’t drain properly, causing pressure to build up and harm the nerve over time. Because vision loss from glaucoma can’t be reversed, early testing and treatment are essential.
What Are the Early Signs?
In the early stages, glaucoma often has no symptoms. That’s why it’s known as the “silent thief of sight.” As the disease progresses, you may notice:
- Trouble seeing things to the side (loss of peripheral vision)
- Bumping into objects that are off to the side
- Difficulty seeing in dim light
- Halos around lights at night
A rare but serious form, acute angle-closure glaucoma, can cause sudden eye pain, headache, nausea, blurred vision, and redness. If these symptoms occur, seek emergency care immediately.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but some people are more likely to experience it, including those who:
- Are over age 40 (especially over 60)
- Have a family history of glaucoma
- Are African American, Hispanic, or Asian
- Have diabetes, high eye pressure, or a past eye injury
- Take steroid medications long-term
- Are very nearsighted or farsighted
If any of these risk factors apply to you, make sure to schedule regular eye exams.
How We Test for Glaucoma
At Total Eye Care, we use several quick and comfortable tests to check for glaucoma. Each one gives us a different view of your eye health:
- Tonometry (eye pressure test): Measures the pressure inside your eye with a gentle puff of air or a small device.
- Optic nerve exam and photos: We look at and photograph your optic nerve to track any changes.
- OCT scan: Provides detailed images of your retina and optic nerve layers to detect early damage.
- Visual field test: You press a button when you see small lights, helping us map your side vision.
- Pachymetry: Measures the thickness of your cornea to better understand your eye pressure.
- Gonioscopy: Checks the drainage angle inside your eye to determine the type of glaucoma.
These tests are quick, painless, and give us the information needed to protect your sight.
Treatment Options
The goal of treatment is to lower eye pressure and prevent further nerve damage. Your treatment plan depends on the type and severity of glaucoma and may include:
- Prescription eye drops to reduce pressure
- Laser treatment to help fluid drain more effectively
- Minimally invasive or traditional surgery for advanced cases
Most patients maintain good vision when glaucoma is detected early and managed properly. Keeping up with eye drops and follow-up visits is key.
Protect Your Sight Today
If it’s been more than a year since your last eye exam, now is the time to schedule one. A comprehensive eye exam is quick, painless, and can detect glaucoma before you notice vision loss.
Our team at Total Eye Care is here to answer your questions, guide you through testing, and create a personalized care plan to protect your vision.
Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today and take the first step toward lifelong healthy vision.