Our eyes produce a clear fluid called aqueous humor, which nourishes the eye and carries away waste. This fluid flows through drainage channels to maintain healthy pressure levels within the eye.

Normally, there is a balance between the production and drainage of aqueous humor, maintaining stable eye pressure. In glaucoma, however, the drainage channels become blocked, disrupting this balance and causing fluid pressure inside the eye to rise. This increased pressure can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss if left untreated.

The increased pressure puts strain on the optic nerve, gradually damaging it and leading to vision problems. If not managed, this damage can progress, potentially resulting in significant vision loss or even blindness.

Anyone whose:

• Age is over 40 years
• Has a family history of glaucoma
• Has myopia or hypermetropia
• Has diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism
• Has increased eye pressure or eye injury
• Has a history of long-term steroid intake
• Has had eye surgeries
• Has a problem from birth

In many cases, glaucoma has no noticeable symptoms for patients. The most common type, Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, shows no symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage, which is why it’s often called the “silent thief of sight.” The main sign of glaucoma is usually a gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision, which often goes unnoticed until significant damage has already occurred.

Angle-closure glaucoma symptoms typically appear suddenly and are more noticeable, with damage occurring quickly. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:

• Seeing halos around lights
• Vision loss
• Redness in your eye
• Eye that looks hazy (particularly in infants)
• Eye pain

Eye specialists can detect glaucoma by performing a few in-clinic tests, where they measure eye pressure and examine the structure of the optic nerve using specialized equipment. All tests are painless.

Glaucoma can also be detected by capturing images of the internal structures of your eyes using various diagnostic devices operated by your doctor.

The primary goal of glaucoma treatment is to stop the disease from progressing and prevent further damage to the optic nerve, thereby preserving vision.

This goal is achieved by lowering eye pressure through medications, laser treatments, or surgeries.