One of the most
serious concerns about glaucoma is that it
usually has no symptoms or signs in its
early stages. As many as half of glaucoma
sufferers in the U.S. have the disease and
don’t know it, according to the National
Eye Institute. Because of the lack of
symptoms, regular eye examinations and
glaucoma-screening programs are important
to the early detection and successful
treatment of glaucoma.
In the later
stages of the disease, some of the
following symptoms may be present:
-
loss of
peripheral (side) vision
-
headache
-
blurred
vision
-
difficulty or
inability to adjust vision in darkened
rooms
-
difficulty
focusing on close work
-
rainbow-colored rings or halos around
lights
-
frequent need
to change eyeglass prescriptions
By the time any
of these symptoms occur, however, the eye
has already been severely and irreversibly
damaged, and the glaucoma may be harder to
control.
That is why
glaucoma is sometimes called “the thief in
the night”, because it robs your vision
without any signs or symptoms.
For that
reason, the Florida Eye Center recommends
that periodic eye exams including glaucoma
testing are very important for everyone,
even people who seem to have perfect
vision.
