What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, usually starting with side (peripheral) vision. High eye pressure is the main risk factor, but normal-tension glaucoma occurs even with pressure in the normal range. It's a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide (Weinreb et al., 2014), and roughly half of Americans with glaucoma don't know they have it.
Why doesn't early glaucoma cause symptoms?
In open-angle glaucoma, the most common type in the US, central vision stays sharp until late and the other eye fills in gaps, so most people notice nothing. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is different: sudden eye pain, redness, headache, nausea and halos around lights—a medical emergency. Risk is higher after age 60, in Black and Hispanic adults, with a family history, high nearsightedness, diabetes or long-term steroid use.
How is glaucoma treated?
Damage can't be reversed, so the goal is to lower eye pressure and slow progression. Prostaglandin eye drops are usually first, followed by laser treatment (SLT), or surgery such as trabeculectomy or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). Regular dilated eye exams are the best defense. See also eye floaters.
This article is general health information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, see a doctor.
FAQ
- Will I go blind from glaucoma?
- Most people who are diagnosed early and keep up with treatment keep useful vision for life.
- Can I stop my drops if my pressure is normal now?
- No—normal readings usually mean the drops are working. Stopping can let damage resume.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-25
References
- Weinreb, R. N., Aung, T., & Medeiros, F. A. (2014). The pathophysiology and treatment of glaucoma: A review. JAMA, 311(18), 1901–1911.
- Iwase, A., Suzuki, Y., Araie, M., et al. (2004). The prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma in Japanese: The Tajimi Study. Ophthalmology, 111(9), 1641–1648.