Glaucoma: How to Spot It and What to Do

Glaucoma steals vision slowly and usually without pain. You can lose side vision first and not notice until damage is advanced. That’s why a clear plan matters: know the signs, get proper tests, and follow treatment closely.

How glaucoma shows up

There are two main types. Open-angle glaucoma is the common, slow form. Angle-closure glaucoma is less common but can cause sudden, severe symptoms.

Watch for subtle changes: losing peripheral (side) vision, trouble seeing in dim light, or bumping into objects at the edge of your sight. Angle-closure can cause intense eye pain, red eye, blurry vision, headache, nausea, and halos around lights. If you get those sudden signs, go to emergency care right away.

Risk factors increase the chance of glaucoma: age over 60, family history, high eye pressure, certain ethnicities (African, Hispanic, and Asian), thin corneas, diabetes, and long-term steroid use. You might also have normal-tension glaucoma, where pressure seems normal but the optic nerve is still damaged.

Tests that catch glaucoma early

Eye doctors use a few quick tests. Tonometry measures eye pressure. A dilated exam checks the optic nerve. Visual field testing maps your side vision. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images the nerve fibers and shows damage before you notice it.

How often you need tests depends on your risk and how stable your condition is. Many people with stable glaucoma see their eye doctor every 3–12 months. Keep a record of each visit so you and your doctor can spot changes.

Treatment aims to protect the optic nerve by lowering eye pressure. Most patients start with medicated eye drops. Common drug classes and examples include prostaglandin analogs (latanoprost), beta blockers (timolol), carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (dorzolamide), alpha agonists (brimonidine), and newer Rho-kinase drugs (netarsudil). Each has possible side effects—eye redness, dry eye, or changes in pulse and breathing—so talk to your doctor about what fits you best.

If drops don’t get pressure low enough, laser treatments like selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) can help. For more severe cases, surgery such as trabeculectomy or minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) is an option. These procedures have real benefits but also require follow-up care.

Simple daily steps help too: use drops exactly as prescribed, don’t skip appointments, keep other health issues—like blood pressure and diabetes—under control, and avoid routines that raise eye pressure (heavy weightlifting without guidance). Supplements like ginkgo or omega-3s get talked about, but evidence is weak—don’t replace prescribed treatment with supplements.

If you or a family member has risk factors or vision changes, book a full eye exam with dilation. Early detection and steady treatment are the best ways to keep your vision. Ask your eye doctor for a clear target eye pressure and a follow-up plan you can stick to.