Glaucoma Symptoms:
What you need to know
Understanding the signs of the disease is crucial, but the main characteristic of glaucoma is precisely its silent action. Understand how it manifests and when to seek immediate help.
Why is Glaucoma called the "Silent Thief"?
The vast majority of glaucoma cases (about 90%) are of the open-angle type. This type does not cause pain, does not change eye color, does not cause itching, and does not blur central vision initially.
The vision loss caused by the disease begins at the edges of the visual field (peripheral vision). The human brain is extremely efficient at "compensating" for these small losses, causing the patient to notice absolutely nothing until the structural damage to the optic nerve is extremely severe and irreversible. This is why you should not wait to feel something before going to the ophthalmologist; if you notice what glaucoma is through visual symptoms, it is likely that the disease is already in a very advanced stage.
Symptoms of Advanced Glaucoma
When open-angle glaucoma reaches late stages, symptoms finally appear, characterized by:
- • Progressive loss of side vision (blind spots).
- • Difficulty seeing in low light.
- • Frequent stumbling due to not seeing steps or obstacles.
- • "Tunnel Vision" (sensation of looking through a tunnel).
Acute Glaucoma Attack (Emergency)
In closed-angle glaucoma, eye pressure rises suddenly, causing severe and immediate symptoms that require emergency ophthalmologic care:
- • Sudden and severe eye pain.
- • Blurred vision and colored halos around lights.
- • Red eye that is hard to the touch.
- • Nausea and vomiting.
- • Severe headache.