Glaucoma is an eye condition that can lead to permanent blindness if undetected and untreated. An estimated more than 80 million individuals globally have it, with many more likely remaining undiagnosed due to the gradual progression of the condition. 

Glaucoma is often asymptomatic; you may have it for some time before the symptoms manifest in its late stages. The early detection of glaucoma helps start immediate treatment. Doing so helps avert vision loss. 

Gradual Loss of Peripheral Vision

Losing your side vision is among the top common signs of glaucoma. The condition starts by affecting the peripheral vision before it gets to the central one. People with glaucoma may not notice this until it’s fully advanced.

Blurred Vision

Glaucoma can cause blurred vision, especially when doing up-close tasks such as reading. The increased eye pressure can damage your optic nerve or cause changes in your cornea’s curvature. As a result, your vision becomes distorted and blurry.

Tunnel Vision

You may experience tunnel vision if you have glaucoma and it starts progressing. Your peripheral vision will get more constricted, and your central vision will become small and intact. Once you’ve reached this stage, performing daily tasks like driving or reading becomes difficult.

Headaches and Eye Pain

People with glaucoma may experience headaches or eye pain. But this happens in rare cases, especially during a sudden increase in pressure in your eye. The occurrence could mean you have acute angle-closure glaucoma, which requires you to seek immediate medical help.

Halos Around Lights

You may have glaucoma if you see halos around lights, especially when bits are dark or at night. It can happen due to changes in your cornea shape and increased pressure in your eye. As a result, navigation or driving in low or dimly-lit environments becomes difficult.

Nausea and Vomiting

Severe cases of acute angle glaucoma could cause you to experience nausea and vomiting. You may also experience headaches and eye pain due to increased eye pressure. It can cause discomfort and damage your optic nerve.

Difficulty Adjusting to Lighting Changes

People with glaucoma struggle to adapt to lighting changes. They have difficulty moving from a bright environment to a dimly lit room. The lighting changes affect their pupil shape. As a result, this may lead to eye pressure fluctuations.

Eye Fatigue

Glaucoma can give you eye fatigue. The feeling often occurs when an individual performs up-close tasks like reading or doing activities that need continuous focus, like using a computer or reading. The fatigue may be due to the increased effort required to maintain central vision.

Sudden Vision Loss

Sudden vision loss, especially in one eye, may mean you have glaucoma. Although this is a rare occurrence, some people experience it. It is vital to seek immediate medical help if this happens to you to avoid a more severe outcome. 

Regular comprehensive eye exams are crucial to help detect these signs early enough to start treatment and prevent the disease from worsening. Doing so will also help prevent vision loss. 

For more about glaucoma, visit Eye Center of Virginia at our office in Williamsburg, Virginia. Call (757) 919-3500 to book an appointment today.