When informed of the possibility of glaucoma, most people have the same reaction: But I have no symptoms of glaucoma. This is precisely why the diagnosis and management of glaucoma continues to remain a problem despite all of the recent technological advances. Glaucoma has no symptoms in the initial stages. In fact, it is only in the later stages that you will actually experience any discomfort.
This article will discuss the symptoms of glaucoma, and their relative absence in most variants of glaucoma. It is however important to remember that even though the disease has no symptoms, its progress is insidious and ongoing. So, you must follow your doctors instructions about investigations, treatment and follow up even though you have no symptoms.
In fact, very often, glaucoma therapy will give you symptoms due to side effects of the medication, when you had none. It is important that you discuss these, and any visual disturbances with your doctor.
Symptoms of Adult Onset Glaucoma
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
Vision loss due to glaucoma is slow and insidious. Which means that you will not notice in decrease in vision until the very late stages. In fact, since the loss of vision starts at the sides, or periphery, and is very gradual, you may not be aware of any damage at all. This is especially true for primary open angle glaucoma.
Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma
Chronic angle closure glaucoma patients may have vague symptoms of eye ache and headaches. Acute angle closure glaucoma, on the other hand, often presents with severe symptoms, which cannot be ignored.
These include:
- Severe throbbing eye pain
- Red eyes
- Headache
- Blurred vision, or even complete loss of vision
- Coloured halos around light
- Nausea and vomiting
Congenital glaucoma
This usually presents in infants and children, and is usually symptomatic. Parents may notice one or all of the following signs:
- Excessive watering from eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Inability to open eyes
- Parents often complain that the child “burrows his or her face in the pillow”
- Lid spasm Tearing, sensitivity to light, and eyelid spasms
- Enlarged cornea
- Cloudy or whitish hue to the normally transparent cornea
- Rubbing of eyes
- Squinting
Secondary glaucoma
Secondary glaucomas will have more symptoms related to the primary disease resulting in the disease.
For example:
Uveitic glaucoma patients will have an inflammation of the eye, pain, and light sensitivity.
Traumatic glaucoma patients will report symptoms depending on nature of trauma.
New Symptoms Due to Glaucoma Medications
These are discussed more comprehensively as side effects of glaucoma therapy. The most common symptoms include
- Redness of eyes
- Dry, irritated eyes
- Watering
- Eye pain and tenderness
- In fact, certain systemic symptoms that may be caused by glaucoma medications are: Drowsiness, tiredness, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, depression, metallic taste in mouth etc
