What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and can result in vision loss and blindness. Over 300,000 Australians are affected by glaucoma and 80 million worldwide. It is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide after cataracts. With early detection and treatment, patients with glaucoma can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss.

It is for this reason that everyone over the age of 45 should see their optometrist for eye check every 2 years and earlier if there is family history.

Glaucoma is usually associated with an intraocular pressure (IOP) above the normal range. However:

20-52% of patients with glaucoma have IOP within the normal range. Patients with normal IOP who develop the characteristic changes associated with open-angle glaucoma are said to have low tension or normal pressure glaucoma.

Many patients have raised IOP for years without developing the changes of glaucoma. This condition is referred to as ocular hypertension.

Often glaucoma can develop without any symptoms. There is commonly no pain and central vision often stays normal until it is late stage of the disease. Therefore it is important for patients with glaucoma to have regular specialized visual field test to assess the amount of peripheral (side) vision being affected.

Without treatment, people with glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision. As glaucoma remains untreated, people may miss objects to the side and out of the corner of their eye. They seem to be looking through a tunnel. Over time, straight-ahead (central) vision may decrease until no vision remains.

Glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes.