Protect Your Vision from Glaucoma with Expert Eye Care
Clear, healthy vision is essential to every part of life — from work to family to the moments that matter most. At Della Optique, Dr. Della Chow provides comprehensive eye exams to detect and manage glaucoma early, helping preserve your sight and protect your long-term eye health.
Glaucoma is often called the silent thief of sight — and for good reason. It can slowly damage vision without obvious warning signs. For many people, it develops quietly over time, and by the time they notice a problem, permanent vision loss has already occurred.
But glaucoma is more than just high eye pressure — it’s actually a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, the vital connection between your eyes and your brain. Understanding what glaucoma is, what causes it, and how it’s treated is the first step toward protecting your vision.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma happens when the optic nerve—which carries visual information from your eyes to your brain—becomes damaged. This is often (but not always) related to high pressure inside the eye, known as intraocular pressure.
Over time, this pressure or nerve damage can lead to irreversible vision loss. Globally, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness.
What makes it tricky is how quietly it progresses. It often starts by affecting your peripheral (side) vision, and many people don’t realize anything is wrong until the disease is well advanced.
Types of Glaucoma
Not all glaucoma is the same. Here are the most common forms:
Open-Angle Glaucoma
The most common type. It develops slowly, usually without pain or early symptoms. Fluid drains too slowly from the eye, causing pressure to build up and gradually damage the optic nerve.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Less common, but far more urgent. It happens when the drainage angle in the eye suddenly becomes blocked. This is a medical emergency that can cause sudden eye pain, nausea, blurry vision, and halos around lights.
Normal-Tension Glaucoma
In this form, optic nerve damage occurs even though eye pressure is normal. Experts believe blood flow and nerve sensitivity play a role.
Congenital Glaucoma
A rare type found in infants or young children, caused by improper development of the eye’s drainage system.
What Causes Glaucoma — and Who’s at Risk?
While glaucoma can happen to anyone, certain factors increase your risk:
- High eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
- Age: Risk rises after 40 and increases with age
- Family history of glaucoma
- Ethnicity: Higher risk in people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent
- Health conditions: Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease
- Eye injuries or long-term use of steroid medications
You can’t always feel glaucoma developing — which is why routine eye exams are so important.
Common Symptoms of Glaucoma
Symptoms depend on the type of glaucoma you have.
Open-Angle Glaucoma (Slow, Gradual)
- Gradual loss of side (peripheral) vision
- Trouble adjusting to dim light
- Tunnel vision in later stages
Angle-Closure Glaucoma (Sudden, Emergency)
- Severe eye pain or headache
- Blurred vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Halos around lights
- Redness in the eye
Most people with open-angle glaucoma don’t notice symptoms until significant vision loss occurs — making regular exams the best way to catch it early.
How Glaucoma is Diagnosed
Early detection is the key to protecting your sight. A comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist may include:
- Tonometry: Measures eye pressure
- Ophthalmoscopy: Looks for optic nerve damage
- Visual field test: Checks for blind spots
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT): Produces detailed images of the optic nerve and retina
Even if your vision seems fine, these tests can spot glaucoma long before you notice any changes.
Treatment Options for Glaucoma
There’s currently no cure for glaucoma, but treatment can help preserve vision and prevent further damage.
Common treatments include:
- Prescription eye drops: Reduce fluid buildup or help fluid drain better
- Oral medications: Sometimes used along with drops to further lower pressure
- Laser therapy:
- Laser trabeculoplasty for open-angle glaucoma
- Laser iridotomy for angle-closure glaucoma
- Surgery: Procedures like trabeculectomy, drainage implants, or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) can improve fluid flow in advanced cases
The key takeaway: glaucoma treatment can control the disease — but it can’t reverse vision loss. Early diagnosis makes all the difference.
Prevention and Early Detection
You can’t always prevent glaucoma, but you can protect your vision by catching it early.
Eye care experts recommend:
- Comprehensive exams every 1–2 years for adults over 40
- More frequent exams if you have risk factors or a family history
- Early exams for children if congenital glaucoma is suspected
Consistent checkups are your best defence — because once vision is lost, it can’t be restored.
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers
What is glaucoma and how does it affect vision?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve, often due to high eye pressure. Without treatment, it can lead to permanent vision loss.
Can glaucoma be cured?
There’s no cure for glaucoma, but early detection and treatment can slow or stop its progression, helping preserve your vision for life.
Who is most at risk for developing glaucoma?
People over 40, those with a family history of glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure, or certain ethnic backgrounds (African, Asian, Hispanic) are at higher risk.
How is glaucoma treated?
Treatment depends on the type and severity of glaucoma. Common options include prescription eye drops, laser therapy, or surgery to lower eye pressure and prevent further optic nerve damage.
Glaucoma Awareness: Protecting Your Vision Starts Today
Glaucoma may be silent, but it’s not unstoppable. With early detection and the right treatment, many people maintain healthy vision for life.
If it’s been a while since your last eye exam — or if you have a family history of glaucoma — now’s the perfect time to schedule an appointment.
Your eyes work hard for you every day. Take a few minutes to make sure they stay healthy for years to come.