Glaucoma Signs and Symptoms

Open angle glaucoma is often called "the silent thief of sight" because its onset is often marked by few, if any symptoms, until vision loss begins. The best way to watch out for open angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma, is to know whether you have risk factors for glaucoma and have regular screenings for the condition.

Angle Closure Glaucoma

Unlike open angle glaucoma, angle closure or acute angle glaucoma has very marked symptoms. These include:

Red eyes
Halos around lights
Eye pain
Headaches
Nausea
Vomiting
Vision loss

If you experience a combination of these symptoms, especially if you have one or more risk factors for angle closure glaucoma, treat it as a medical emergency and see an ophthalmologist or doctor immediately. Vision loss from angle closure glaucoma can be rapid and irreversible.

Vision Loss from Glaucoma

Learning to recognize the vision loss from glaucoma is important to stop it before it becomes severe.

Vision loss from glaucoma differs from macular degeneration or cataracts. Glaucoma vision loss begins as a shading or loss of peripheral vision that darkens and narrows the field of vision. Macular degeneration affects central vision first. Cataracts appear as a haze over the entire field of vision that lessens clarity and color sensitivity.

Because vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible, it is important to see an ophthalmologist if you recognize signs of vision loss.

Before glaucoma begins to affect your vision, find a local ophthalmologist who can screen you for the condition and protect your sight.