Glaucoma is a serious, sight-threatening eye disease. It is progressive, meaning it gets worse over time, and it causes permanent damage to the optic nerve that can lead to irreversible vision loss or blindness.
What makes glaucoma especially dangerous is that the damage often starts quietly. Vision loss typically begins in the outer edges of your visual field, called peripheral vision, and slowly closes in. Many people do not notice any changes until the disease has reached an advanced stage. By that point, vision loss may appear as tunnel vision or even complete loss of sight in one or both eyes, and this damage cannot be reversed.
Why Early Detection Is Critical
The best way to protect your sight from glaucoma is to catch it as early as possible. Early detection and timely treatment can slow its progression and preserve vision for many years.
The only way to detect glaucoma early is through regular comprehensive eye exams. Annual exams that include dilation and specialized testing can reveal the earliest signs of damage before symptoms appear.
How Glaucoma Is Diagnosed
If signs of glaucoma are present, additional testing and more frequent eye exams are often recommended to closely monitor your eyes.
Your eye doctor may use:
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) to capture detailed images of the optic nerve and retina
Visual field testing (automated perimetry) to check for characteristic patterns of peripheral vision loss
Corneal pachymetry (ultrasound) to measure corneal thickness
Eye pressure testing to see if pressure is elevated, which can restrict blood flow to the optic nerve
Gonioscopy to examine the drainage angle of the eye, which plays a key role in glaucoma development
These tests help identify glaucoma at its earliest stages and track any progression over time.
Understanding Your Risk
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but some people are at higher risk. A family history of glaucoma increases your chances, as do certain racial or ethnic backgrounds. Some systemic health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, can also make glaucoma more likely.
Because glaucoma often has no symptoms in its early stages, risk factors alone are not enough to rely on. A comprehensive eye exam is the only way to detect it early enough to protect your vision.
Protect Your Sight with Regular Exams
There is no at-home test that can reliably detect glaucoma, and waiting for symptoms to appear is too risky. Regular, dilated eye exams are essential for safeguarding your vision.
If it has been more than a year since your last eye exam, schedule an appointment at River Lake Clinic! Early detection can make all the difference in preventing vision loss from glaucoma.