What are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?

Some symptoms that may be associated with glaucoma include frequent changes in glasses prescriptions, difficulty adjusting to dark rooms, loss of side vision, and blurred vision.  A glaucoma patient might also experience halos and severe headaches or pain.  Since many of these symptoms are also associated with other eye disorders like macular degeneration or retina problems, it is always important to see an ophthalmologist for any changes of vision.

However, glaucoma can gradually damage optic nerve cells over a period of 10 to 30 years.  With the most common form of glaucoma among people in the United States, the gradual decrease of vision may not be noticed until the disease is quite advanced.  Most often, there is no pain or noticeable symptoms associated with glaucoma.  As the vision deteriorates, the disease can develop so slowly; the patient might not realize the loss of sight.  This continues until vision becomes more impaired and irreversible blindness sets in.

Contrary to what most people believe, the peripheral vision to the side is actually the last part of vision to be lost in some patients with glaucoma.  Usually the area of seeing that is lost first is on the nasal side, and involves one eye much more than the other.  Thus, it’s not until both the eyes have lost a great deal of vision that the affected patient realizes the loss.

• What is Glaucoma?
• Who will get Glaucoma?
• What are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?
• Types of Glaucoma.
• Diagnosis of Glaucoma.
• Treatment of Glaucoma.  

Quick Links

Click the links below to learn more about some of the conditions Green Bay Eye Clinic physicians specialize in.

Cataracts

Blepharoplasty

Glaucoma

Extraocular Muscles

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

Retinal Detachment

Ocular Histoplasmosis

If there is a condition not listed here that you would like to be consulted about, contact us.