| There are two major types of glaucoma: | | | | and loss in peripheral vision are key signs. A |
| open-angle glaucoma and acute closed-angle | | | | tonometer is an instrument that measures |
| glaucoma. Most glaucoma patients have | | | | pressure inside the eye. It can show abnormal |
| open-angle glaucoma. There are usually no signs or | | | | pressure that causes damage to optic nerves. |
| symptoms in the early stages of open-angle | | | | Closed-angle glaucoma, sometimes known as |
| glaucoma. The first sign is usually loss of vision, | | | | acute glaucoma, differs from open-angle in that |
| which is why the disease is sometimes referred | | | | the symptoms typically occur suddenly (although |
| to as the "sneak thief of sight." Vision loss caused | | | | not always). The symptoms may include blurred |
| by glaucoma cannot be restored. | | | | vision, formation of halos around lights at night, |
| Primary open-angle glaucoma progresses with few | | | | pain and redness in the eye, and swelling and |
| or no symptoms until the condition reaches an | | | | clouding of the cornea (the typically clear and |
| advanced stage. As increased eye pressure | | | | transparent coating layer of the outer eyeball). |
| continues to damage your optic nerve, you lose | | | | The pain experienced can be so intense that it |
| more and more of your peripheral vision. If | | | | may cause nausea and vomiting or a headache. |
| glaucoma is left untreated, you can develop tunnel | | | | It consists of a 10-item scale developed from the |
| vision and eventually lose all sight. Open-angle | | | | symptom checklist that was created for the |
| glaucoma usually affects both eyes, although at | | | | Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS). All |
| first you may have vision loss in just one eye. | | | | items in the GSS address eye complaints, some |
| Chronic glaucoma is insidious. If the pressure | | | | of a non-visual nature and some of a visual |
| increases slowly, it will not produce any | | | | nature, common to patients with glaucoma. The |
| symptoms until it has done irreversible damage. In | | | | Glaucoma Symptom Scale measures symptoms |
| such cases, people may notice visual problems at | | | | of glaucoma as well as symptoms of glaucoma |
| first only when light is dim. Patients are often | | | | treatment. It provides a valid and reliable estimate |
| sensitive to glare. Most people with glaucoma do | | | | of symptoms associated with glaucoma the |
| not notice symptoms until they begin to have | | | | normal score is 100 and implies absence of all |
| significant vision loss. As optic nerve fibers are | | | | glaucoma related symptoms. |
| damaged by glaucoma, small blind spots may | | | | Acute glaucoma tends to come on very quickly. |
| begin to develop, usually in the peripheral or side | | | | Symptoms include pain and blurred vision. Some |
| vision. | | | | people also feel sick, faint and vomit. In the early |
| Congenital glaucoma It can be difficult to | | | | stages you may see misty rainbow coloured rings |
| recognise symptoms of congenital glaucoma. If | | | | around white lights. If you think you are having an |
| your baby or child has cloudy, white, hazy, | | | | attack of acute glaucoma, you should go to |
| enlarged or protruding eyes you should make an | | | | hospital immediately. |
| appointment to see your doctor immediately. | | | | Open angle glaucoma usually produces slow loss |
| Warning signs of glaucoma are different for each | | | | of peripheral vision. There are often blind spots. |
| form. Glaucoma is usually not noticeable until | | | | Closed angle glaucoma usually produce sudden |
| significant damage has been done to the optic | | | | eye pain or headache. There may be nausea and |
| nerves. With open-angle glaucoma, the most | | | | vomiting. The eye is red, and there is blurred |
| common form, an increase in intraocular pressure | | | | vision. Colored halos appear around bright objects. |