Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness worldwide. Even though vision loss can be prevented if the disease is caught early enough, half of people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it. That’s because glaucoma begins with no noticeable symptoms. When a person notices vision impairment, irreversible damage has already occurred.

Fortunately, you can protect your vision by getting a comprehensive eye exam every year or two. When a patient’s eyes are dilated, eye doctors can detect glaucoma well before the person starts having symptoms. And early detection means early treatment to prevent vision impairment or loss.

Who’s at risk for glaucoma?

Everyone is potentially at risk for glaucoma, but some have a higher risk than others. People who are at high risk include:

• Those with a family history of glaucoma
• African Americans aged 40 and older
• Anyone over the age of 60, particularly people who are Hispanic or Latino

Migraine could also increase a person’s risk of glaucoma. While glaucoma is usually considered a disease caused by pressure build-up in the eye, it can also occur without increased pressure. In that case, it’s called normal-tension or low-pressure glaucoma—and it’s what people with migraine are at increased risk for.

How is glaucoma detected?

A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the primary way glaucoma is detected. This is different than a basic eye exam for glasses, but your eye doctor can do both at the same time. In the comprehensive exam, eye drops are used to widen your pupils, which allows the doctor to look for signs on the disease on your optic nerve.

Learn more and find a doctor

You can get a good overview of glaucoma by watching this video produced by the National Institutes of Health. 

For help finding a doctor who can do a comprehensive exam and information on financial assistance, visit the NIH’s glaucoma information page or call (301) 496–5248.

REFERENCES

• National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health. Information for Healthy Vision: Glaucoma. https://nei.nih.gov/glaucoma
• National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health. Make a Resolution for Healthy Vision. https://nei.nih.gov/sites/default/files/nehep-pdf...
• World Health Organization. Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment. http://www.who.int/blindness/causes/en/