Glaucoma is sometimes described as “the silent thief of sight” because the most common form has few if any symptoms. Other types of glaucoma are marked with immediate symptoms, such as halos, eye pain, headaches, and immediate vision loss. Glaucoma results in vision loss and needs to be treated whether you experience symptoms or not.
The best way to detect glaucoma and prevent vision loss is with regular eye exams. If you have not had an eye exam recently, please call 888-514-2020 or email Armin Vishteh, MD today for a free consultation at our offices in: Rancho Cucamonga, Burbank, Santa Monica.
Open Angle Glaucoma Symptoms
Open angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. It occurs when your eye’s drainage duct (called the “angle”) gradually becomes blocked by material over time. This causes the pressure in your eyes to slowly elevate, damaging your optic nerve and causing you to lose vision. Once you notice vision loss from open angle glaucoma, it may be gone forever, and you may have future vision loss before treatment takes effect.
The best way to prevent vision loss from open angle glaucoma is to have regular eye exams according to the recommended timing.
Angle Closure Glaucoma Symptoms
Another type of glaucoma, angle closure or acute glaucoma, actually has significant symptoms, such as:
- Red eyes
- Halos around lights
- Eye pain
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vision loss–may be partial or total, and in one eye or both
These symptoms should be treated as an eye emergency and you should seek medical attention immediately. Vision loss from angle closure glaucoma can be sudden, severe, and irreversible.
Vision Loss from Glaucoma
Vision loss from glaucoma can be irreversible, so it’s important to learn to recognize it and seek treatment before it becomes too severe. You should also learn how to distinguish it from vision loss due to other effects of aging eyes, such as macular degeneration or cataracts.
Vision loss from glaucoma begins as a shading or loss of peripheral vision that darkens and narrows the field of vision. Macular degeneration affects your central vision first. Cataracts begin as a haze over your entire vision that lessens clarity and sensitivity to contrast and colors. You may also see night vision effects, such as glare, halos, and starbursts.
If you notice signs of glaucoma vision loss, seek medical attention. Glaucoma treatment can often stop additional vision loss, but vision lost may not be recoverable.
Before glaucoma steals your sight, schedule an eye exam. Please contact Armin Vishteh, MD today for a free consultation at our offices in: Rancho Cucamonga, Burbank, Santa Monica.