Understanding glaucoma: protecting your vision as you age

Glaucoma is one of the most common eye conditions affecting people over 50. Yet many of us don’t realise we have it until significant damage has already occurred.

But there is good news too. When caught early, glaucoma can be effectively managed to help preserve your vision for a lifetime. Understanding this condition and knowing what to look out for is the first step in protecting your eyesight.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve, the vital connection between your eye and your brain that allows you to see.

It’s usually caused by a build-up of pressure inside the eye. Your eye produces fluid constantly, and this fluid should drain away naturally. When it can’t drain properly, pressure builds up and starts to damage the optic nerve.

Sometimes glaucoma occurs even when eye pressure is normal. It’s not always clear why this happens, and this is one of the reasons regular eye examinations are so important for detecting it early.

Am I at risk of developing glaucoma?

There are a number of factors that increase your risk of developing glaucoma.

Age is the biggest factor. Glaucoma becomes much more common from the age of 50 onwards, which is why regular eye tests become even more important as we get older.

Family history plays a part too. If you have a parent, brother or sister with glaucoma, your risk is much higher.

Your ethnicity can also affect your risk. People from Black African, Caribbean and Asian backgrounds are at higher risk of developing the condition.

Certain medical conditions increase risk too, including diabetes, short-sightedness and long-sightedness.

If any of these apply to you, let your Optometrist know. They can tailor your eye care to your individual risk factors and might suggest more regular check ups.

What are the early signs of glaucoma?

In the early stages, most people don’t notice any symptoms of glaucoma at all.

The condition develops slowly over many years, and you typically won’t realise anything is wrong until your vision is already affected. Even then, your brain can hide the problem by relying more heavily on one eye than the other.

This is why regular eye tests are absolutely vital. An eye examination is usually how glaucoma is discovered – often before you’ve noticed any problems yourself.

In rare cases, glaucoma can develop suddenly. If you experience intense eye pain, a red eye, tenderness around the eyes, seeing rainbow-coloured circles around lights, blurred vision, headaches or nausea, seek immediate medical attention.

What should I do if I’m worried about glaucoma?

If you’re concerned about glaucoma or notice any changes to your vision, book an appointment with your Optometrist as soon as possible.

During your eye examination, we’ll look at your optic nerve in particular detail, checking for any signs of damage. We have specialised equipment that allows us to examine the health of your optic nerve and measure your eye pressure accurately.

If we suspect glaucoma, we can refer you to a specialist eye doctor (an Ophthalmologist) at the hospital eye clinic for confirmation and to begin treatment. You might need immediate attention or you may wait a few weeks, but we’ll always explain the urgency of your referral and what you can expect next.

Can glaucoma be cured?

There’s currently no cure for glaucoma, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be successfully managed.

Once damage to the optic nerve has occurred, we’re unable to undo it. However, if we catch the condition early and begin treatment quickly, we can take steps to prevent further damage from happening. With effective treatment and regular monitoring, most people with glaucoma preserve their sight and continue doing the things they love well into their later years.

The earlier we spot glaucoma, the better chance we have of preserving your vision for the long term.

How is glaucoma treated?

There are a number of effective treatments available, all focused on reducing the pressure in your eye to slow down or stop the damage to your optic nerve.

Most people with glaucoma will be prescribed eye drops. These work by either reducing the amount of fluid your eye produces or helping it drain away more effectively. You’ll need to use the drops daily.

If eye drops alone aren’t enough, laser treatment may be recommended. This helps improve the drainage of fluid from your eye, reducing pressure.

For some patients, surgery may be necessary. There are several different surgical procedures that can help manage glaucoma effectively. These are typically small procedures designed to be as gentle as possible.

Your treatment will be tailored to your individual needs. You’ll have regular follow-up appointments afterwards, first at the hospital and then back at your local opticians.

What can I do to prevent glaucoma?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely prevent glaucoma from developing. However, there are steps you can take to support your eye health and catch the condition early if it does develop.

Looking after your general health helps protect your eyes too. Stay well hydrated and eat a healthy diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and green leafy vegetables. Try to reduce your salt and sugar intake, especially if you have a family history of diabetes.

Regular eye examinations are your most important defence against glaucoma. For most people, we recommend an eye test at least once every two years. If you’re over 70, or have risk factors for glaucoma, we may suggest annual check-ups.

Remember, catching glaucoma early means we can slow its progress and help you avoid vision loss. This makes those regular check-ups absolutely vital, even when you feel your vision is perfect.

Why choose Spectacular Opticians for your aging eyes?

As we age, our eyes need extra care and attention. At Spectacular Opticians, we specialise in providing comprehensive eye care that gives you the best chance of keeping healthy vision well into your later years.

We take our time during every examination. We select tests that give us the most accurate and detailed information about the health of your eyes, and you’ll receive personalised advice tailored to your lifestyle, work, hobbies and family history.

For patients over 40, we pay particular attention to your optic nerve, checking for any early signs of glaucoma. If we do identify any concerns, we have strong relationships with hospital eye specialists. So we can make sure you receive the right level of care exactly when you need it.

If you’re over 40, have a family history of glaucoma, or have noticed any changes to your vision, don’t wait.

Contact our friendly team to book a comprehensive eye examination today.