Early Warning Signs of Glaucoma and What to Do About Them

Early Warning Signs of Glaucoma and What to Do About Them

  • By:Dr. Katie Dugan

There’s a reason why glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight.” Patients who have this condition often have no symptoms in the beginning, which means that this eye disease can progress undetected. The key to protecting your eyes and preventing vision loss is maintaining regular eye exams so our expert team can detect common eye issues in the earliest stages. These early interventions offer the best potential outcome to save your vision and long-term eye health.

Why Glaucoma is So Serious

Patients with glaucoma have a serious condition that can cause permanent damage to their vision because of the way the optic nerve is affected. With glaucoma, the pressure in the eye increases, which puts pressure on the optic nerve and can cause damage.

To put it simply: fluid within the eye is made constantly and normally drains at the ideal rate based on the amount of fluid being created. But glaucoma interferes with the drainage system in the eyes, which causes pressure to build because of the increased fluid.

While most patients with glaucoma have high pressure in the eye, there are other forms of glaucoma that can also damage the optic nerve with normal pressure.

The most important thing that you need to understand is that early detection and proactive treatment are essential. If the optic nerve is damaged, then it will lead to permanent, irreversible vision loss.

Early Warning Signs of Glaucoma

In the beginning, you might not notice any changes to your vision. But if you start to notice any early warning signs, then it’s critical to seek professional eye care services as soon as possible. Some of the warning symptoms that need to be addressed include:

  • A gradual loss of your peripheral (side) vision.
  • It becomes more difficult to see in dim or dark conditions.
  • Your vision is changing frequently, causing the need for new glasses.
  • There are halos or a glare when you see lights.
  • Headaches or eye strain.

Most of the time, the symptoms develop gradually. But there could also be sudden, emergency symptoms relating to glaucoma, such as:

  • Severe eye pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Proactive Treatment to Protect Your Vision

If you suspect any changes in your eyes, then it’s critical to visit an eye doctor for diagnosis and personalized treatment as soon as possible. The earlier you come to our office, the easier it is to slow the progression of all types of eye diseases.

Also, patients of all ages should maintain regular eye checkups. These appointments evaluate your overall eye health and vision at the same time. An eye doctor could potentially identify signs of eye disease before you have any noticeable symptoms.

Contact our team at Temecula Creek Optometry to schedule an appointment and get personalized treatment recommendations: (951) 302 -1331.

Posted in: Eye Health