By Ty Kelly
Glaucoma is a relatively popular eye problem that involves the damage of the optic nerve. If not treated on time, this condition can lead to vision loss. Therefore, to prevent vision loss, everyone needs to know the symptoms of this condition so that they can know when they have it.
Perhaps you are experiencing some issues with your eyes but are uncertain whether it is glaucoma or not. Let’s show you how to know if you have glaucoma.
To know if you have glaucoma, you must have some understanding of the various types of glaucoma available. Acute angle-closure glaucoma and open-angle glaucoma are the two most common types.
How to know you have acute angle-closure glaucoma
Generally, there is an angle where the cornea and iris meet in the eye. This angle is what is affected by glaucoma. When you have acute angle-closure glaucoma, there is a closure of the angle in numerous parts of the eyes. This leads to an increase in eye pressure; hence, the optic nerve will be damaged.
Otherwise called narrow-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma can show the following symptoms at its early stages:
- Severe head and eye pain
- Eye redness
- Blurred or hazy vision
- The appearance of halos (rainbow-colored circles) around bright lights
- Sudden vision loss
- Dilated pupil
- Vomiting and nausea
Unfortunately, this type of glaucoma leads to quick optic nerve damage. Hence, once you start noticing any symptoms, you shouldn’t hesitate to visit an optometrist for examination and treatment.
How to know you have open-angle glaucoma
When a person has open-angle glaucoma, the angle looks normal because it is just as open and wide as it ought to be. However, the drainage canals of the eye will be blocked as time goes on.
Unlike angle-closure glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma doesn’t usually show any early symptoms. As a result of this, the condition can progress over several years without any issues. Visual sharpness and acuity may be maintained while the condition is developing. However, after some years, the person may just experience sudden vision loss.
Therefore, if you are waiting for symptoms, you may never know whether you have open-angle glaucoma or not.
Go for routine eye checks
Whether you have open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, or other types, it is easier to know when you visit an optometrist. Don’t wait until you start noticing any sign of glaucoma before going for a test. In general, a tonometer will be used by your eye doctor to determine the level of your eye pressure. From the reading of the tool, the expert can tell whether you have glaucoma or not.
Besides, your eye doctor can help you to find the level of damage that your optic nerve has already suffered. This will play a key role in finding a solution to the problem.
However, many people don’t consider routine eye checks as important things to do. Hence, glaucoma could have developed fully before they will realize that they have it.
In addition, people with risk factors associated with glaucoma should be more careful. Such individuals should be more concerned about visiting an optometrist for routine eye tests.
