What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause gradual damage to the optic nerve of the eye. The optic nerve is the messenger between your eyes and your brain, and its function is essential for vision.

Many people with glaucoma have high levels of pressure in their eyes, or what eye care professionals refer to as intraocular pressure. When the optic nerve is damaged due to high pressure, it can lead to gradual vision loss. Glaucoma can also occur in individuals with normal eye pressure. 

If you've ever been to an eye care professional (of course you have, you're here looking for contacts), they have probably tested you for glaucoma — that's the blowing air in your eye test.

Types of glaucoma

While glaucoma is often thought of as a single disease, it's actually a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve and potentially lead to vision loss. Here's a breakdown of the three different types of glaucoma.

Primary open-angle glaucoma

Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the condition. It's caused by gradual pressure on the optic nerve due to fluid buildup inside the eye. With primary open-angle glaucoma, the eye's drainage system can only drain a small portion of the fluid.

Over time, the constant pressure on the optic nerve can lead to significant damage and possible vision loss. This type of glaucoma doesn't cause any symptoms in its early stages. As the condition progresses, people may experience patchy blind spots in their peripheral vision, followed by central vision loss. Risk factors for primary open-angle glaucoma include nearsightedness, diabetes and high blood pressure, and older age.

Angle-closure glaucoma

With angle-closure glaucoma, the iris or colored part of the eye bulges out and creates a blockage in the eye's drainage system. This can lead to increased pressure on the optic nerve. People with angle-closure glaucoma may experience symptoms that come on suddenly, or the disease can be slow-moving and gradual.

Symptoms include severe eye pain, eye redness and inflammation, and decreased or blurred vision. This type of glaucoma can also cause people to see halos or rainbows in their line of vision. Angle-closure glaucoma is more common in females, and risk factors include smaller eyes or being farsighted, genetics, and older age.

Normal-tension glaucoma

Normal-tension glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve becomes damaged but there are no signs of pressure within the eye. The underlying cause of normal-tension glaucoma isn't completely understood, but some eye care professionals believe the optic nerve may be damaged due to decreased blood flow or circulation problems.

Some common symptoms of normal-tension glaucoma include blind spots and visual disturbances, and risk factors include older age and a history of hypertension. This type of glaucoma is also more common in females. 

Causes and risk factors of glaucoma

Understanding the causes and risk factors of glaucoma is an important step in managing the disease and reducing the risk of complete vision loss. Early detection is key because it allows your eye care professional to develop an appropriate treatment plan and monitor disease progression. 

Causes of glaucoma

The primary cause of glaucoma is fluid buildup in the eyes that increases intraocular pressure. However, glaucoma can also occur in people who have damaged optic nerves but normal eye pressure.

Some possible secondary causes of glaucoma include eye injuries that damage the optic nerve, certain medications, and underlying health conditions.

Medications linked to glaucoma include blood thinners, anti-Parkinson's medications, sulfa drugs, and Botox injections. Underlying health conditions that may increase the risk of developing glaucoma include diabetes, high blood pressure, and sickle-cell anemia. 

Risk factors for glaucoma

There are many risk factors associated with all three types of glaucoma. Understanding your risk factors and scheduling regular eye exams (especially if you have higher risk factors) is essential when it comes to maintaining optimal eye health and managing your symptoms. Some common risk factors for glaucoma include: 

• Age (40 or over is at higher risk)
• History of medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and migraine headaches
• Long-term use of steroid medications
• Farsightedness
• Nearsightedness
• African, Asian, or Hispanic heritage
• Family history of glaucoma
• High eye pressure
• Poor blood circulation

Symptoms and diagnosis of glaucoma 

If you're experiencing symptoms of glaucoma, it's important to schedule an exam with your eye care professional right away. They'll conduct a series of diagnostic tests to help diagnose the condition and determine disease progression. 

Common symptoms of glaucoma 

Common symptoms of glaucoma include:

• Eye pain and pressure
• Blurred vision
• Seeing halos or rainbows around lights
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Eye pain
• Eye redness

These symptoms can also occur in a wide range of eye and medical conditions. By scheduling regular eye exams, your eye care professional can determine if your symptoms are due to glaucoma and create an appropriate care plan. 

Diagnostic tests for glaucoma

If your eye care professional suspects you may have glaucoma, they'll perform various tests to make an accurate diagnosis. These tests include:

• Tonometry tests, which measure intraocular pressure. For one of the most common ones, your eye care professional presses a flat-tipped probe against the surface of your eye. Another type of tonometry test is the "blowing a puff of air test" mentioned above
• Visual field testing, which looks for changes in your peripheral vision
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT), which takes detailed images of your retina and the back of your eye

Whether you've yet to be diagnosed with glaucoma, you're newly diagnosed, or you've been managing your condition for awhile, these eye tests are highly effective at monitoring disease progression. 

Treatment and management of glaucoma

Glaucoma treatment options 

There's no cure for glaucoma, but regular eye exams and various treatments may help to slow down its progression. The primary goal of glaucoma treatment is to relieve or reduce intraocular pressure and preserve your overall vision. 

Some helpful treatments for glaucoma include:

• Eye drops to help reduce pressure and soothe redness and inflammation
• Laser therapy to relieve optic nerve pressure
• Traditional surgical procedures to reduce fluid buildup
• Oral medications such as beta blockers and prostaglandin analogs to reduce eye pressure and open up the blood vessels in the eyes

Lifestyle and self-care for glaucoma

In addition to adhering to your medication and treatment schedule, making some healthy lifestyle changes and practicing self-care may also help with symptom management. Regular exercise boosts endorphins, improves mood, and may help improve circulation, while incorporating nutritious fruits and veggies into your daily diet may help reduce oxidative stress, an internal process linked to optic nerve damage. 

Managing glaucoma symptoms to prevent vision loss 

While glaucoma can't be 100% cured, the condition is manageable when detected early. Regular eye exams, lifestyle changes, and treatments to help reduce eye pressure can improve your quality of life and potentially save your vision. 

Browse our wide selection of lenses to find the perfect match for your prescription at 1-800 Contacts. 

FAQs

Is glaucoma preventable?

There's no way to prevent glaucoma, but there is good news if you receive a glaucoma diagnosis in its early stages. While glaucoma is a disease that progresses slowly, medications and surgeries that reduce pressure on the optic nerve may help prevent blindness and vision loss. Your eye care professional may also prescribe pressure-reducing eye drops if you're at an increased risk for developing glaucoma. 

It's also important to keep your eyes safe from injury by wearing protective goggles when playing sports or working with heavy tools or machinery. Your eye care professional will fill you in on the best treatment options based on the specific stages of your condition.

Can glaucoma be cured?

At this time, there's no single cure for glaucoma, but there are lots of things you can do to slow its progression and possibly prevent serious vision loss. If your eye care professional discovered high eye pressure at your last appointment, they can prescribe eye drops to reduce that pressure and possibly prevent glaucoma complications. Scheduling regular eye exams can also help your eye care professional detect and treat symptoms as they develop to keep your eyes healthy as long as possible. 

Does glaucoma only affect older adults?

While it's commonly believed that glaucoma is exclusively a disease of older adults, it can actually affect people of all ages. However, it's more common in adults, and the condition is also one of the leading causes of permanent vision loss in people over 60 years of age.