You understand the importance of regular exercise, healthy eating, and routine doctor’s appointments. But do you take the same proactive approach to protecting your vision? If you regularly skip your comprehensive eye exams, the answer is probably no. Knowing the glaucoma signs, symptoms, and prevention steps can save your sight.
Many common eye diseases like glaucoma can be caught early with yearly eye exams. Glaucoma is treatable, but if left untreated, it can cause permanent vision loss. Glaucoma causes pressure to build inside the eye, which damages the optic nerve and leads to vision loss over time.
Keep reading to learn the glaucoma signs, symptoms, and prevention steps you should know. You can also learn more about glaucoma care at Vision Care of Maine.
Glaucoma Signs, Symptoms, and Prevention: What to Know
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Because it usually causes no pain or obvious symptoms in the early stages, many people do not know they have it until vision loss begins.
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but certain factors raise your risk:
- Family history of glaucoma
- Age over 60
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Severe nearsightedness
Understanding glaucoma signs, symptoms, and prevention starts with knowing your personal risk.
The Two Different Types of Glaucoma
There are two main types of glaucoma, and the signs, symptoms, and prevention approaches differ for each.
Open-Angle Glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type. It develops slowly and quietly, with few symptoms in the beginning. Many people have no idea they have it until they notice changes in their peripheral vision. Regular eye exams are the only reliable way to catch it.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma develops much faster and has more obvious symptoms:
- Severe eye pain
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurry vision
- Halos around lights
If you experience these symptoms, treat it as a medical emergency. Angle-closure glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss within days.
Glaucoma Prevention Through Regular Eye Exams
There is no cure for glaucoma, but there are treatments that can slow or stop the disease. Early detection is the most important part of glaucoma signs, symptoms, and prevention. Do not ignore changes in your vision and hope they go away on their own.
Yearly eye exams are the best defense against glaucoma and other common eye diseases. Your eye doctor can measure the pressure inside your eye and check your optic nerve for any early signs of damage.
Schedule Your Eye Exam Today
Now that you know more about glaucoma signs, symptoms, and prevention, the next step is to book a comprehensive eye exam. Vision Care of Maine sees patients in Bangor, Presque Isle, Houlton, and Madawaska.
Schedule your eye exam with Vision Care of Maine today.