What Are the Early Signs of Glaucoma?
Understanding One of the Most Common Eye Diseases
At LASIK Vision Centers of Cleveland, our primary focus is helping patients achieve clear vision through laser eye surgery. However, it is also our mission to educate our patients on different eye diseases and their symptoms. When you know the warning signs and early indicators, you can take a proactive and preventative approach to your eye health, which can make a real difference to your vision and overall health over time. One eye disease that affects approximately 3 million people in the United States according to the CDC is glaucoma. Glaucoma causes a buildup of fluid and pressure in the eye that can damage your optic nerve.
There are two types of glaucoma: Primary open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common, and angle-closure glaucoma, which is rarer and considered an acute eye emergency. We want to discuss the signs of primary open-angle glaucoma as it is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States according to the American Optometric Association. It occurs most often in people 40 or older, but it can occur in younger adults.
The most common early signs of glaucoma are:
- Loss of peripheral vision—what you see to the side as your eyes are focused straight ahead
- Seeing halos around lights
- Sudden vision loss
- Headaches or eye pain
- Nausea
- Redness in the eyes
What to Do If You Experience Signs of Glaucoma
Can Patients With Glaucoma Receive LASIK?
If you are experiencing any early signs of glaucoma, reach out to your eye doctor to discuss your symptoms and perform a comprehensive eye exam. To diagnose your symptoms, your eye doctor will likely measure the pressure in your eye, dilate and test your eyes for optic nerve damage, and check for any areas of vision loss.
Are you wondering whether LASIK is an option for patients with glaucoma? The answer is a bit complicated. It will depend on whether your glaucoma is controlled, if there has been damage to your optic nerve, and whether you have any other eye conditions or ongoing health issues. We advise patients with glaucoma to schedule their consultation with LVC so that we can discuss your glaucoma and its progression as well as whether LASIK will be an appropriate and safe vision correction option for you.
