Symptoms and Signs of Glaucoma
Glaucoma, a group of conditions that cause optic nerve damage, often give few warning signs or symptoms until permanent damage has already occurred. For that reason, Baltimore area ophthalmologists at the Katzen Eye Group recommend having your eyes tested and examined every two years if you are under the age of 60, and every year thereafter. You’ll want to be tested more frequently if you have one or more of these glaucoma risk factors:
- Diabetic or diagnosis of high blood pressure
- Family history of glaucoma
- Over the age of 60
- Steroid user
- Eye injury patient
- Severely near-sighted
- African-American or older aged Hispanic
Common Types of Glaucoma and their Symptoms
Primary open-angle glaucoma and acute angle-closure glaucoma are the two most familiar types of glaucoma. Each type has vastly different symptoms, which include:
Primary open-angle glaucoma
- Peripheral vision, typically in both eyes, diminishes slowly
- Tunnel vision will appear in advanced stages
Acute angle closure glaucoma
- Headache (Particularly brow ache)
- Acute eye pain
- Nausea and vomiting (in conjunction with the severe eye pain)
- A sudden visual disturbance (often in low light)
- Blurry vision
- Halos around light
- Eye reddening
The Mayo Clinic recommends that if you have two or more of these symptoms together that you seek immediate care at an emergency room or an ophthalmologist’s office.
Katzen Eye Group offers two locations in Maryland (Baltimore and Lutherville) for those in need of glaucoma screening and treatment. Let us take care of your vision needs by scheduling an appointment today.
