Glaucoma refers to a cluster of eye diseases that have the potential to cause blindness by damaging the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, as shared by the National Eye Institute (NEI). The organisation informed that the symptoms of glaucoma can ‘start so slowly that you may not notice them. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.’
This has been relayed in a recent study led by the University of Gothenburg, which showed that almost 5% of 70-year-olds who participated in the study had glaucoma, and almost half of those had no realisation that they were suffering from this disease.
Older People Unaware They Are Suffering From Glaucoma
As per the study, glaucoma is common in old age and damages a person’s field of vision. However, it can even lead to blindness if it gets serious. In their study, out of the 560 participants, 4.8% were diagnosed with glaucoma after being examined by eye specialists. But what was alarming was that 15, or 2.7% of those participants who were diagnosed had no awareness that they had the disease. So the only reason why “half of those who turned out to have glaucoma were diagnosed is because they took part in the study,” shared Lena Havstam Johansson, PhD student, and lead author of the study.
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Speaking about the turmoil faced by people living with glaucoma, Johansson commented, “It’s harder to climb stairs, see curbs in the evening, and notice things in your peripheral vision. This means that people with glaucoma may avoid visiting others or going to restaurants or parties, and instead stay at home. They lose their independence, and may feel frustrated about it.”
NEI shared that there’s no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment is quite promising and can stop the damage and protect your vision. However timely intervention is challenging because the symptoms are hard to recognise.
Symptoms Of Glaucoma
The NEI underscored, ‘At first, glaucoma doesn’t usually have any symptoms. That’s why half of people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it.’ That is why it is essential for people to be aware of the symptoms and risk factors of glaucoma so that they can be proactive and seek early treatment. As per NEI, the risk factors and warning signs of glaucoma are:
- Vision loss usually starts with your peripheral vision, especially the part of vision that’s closest to the nose.
- The loss would be extremely gradual, so it's hard to notice any changes.
- Risk factors of glaucoma include old age and family history.
That is why it is essential for everyone, especially those who possess the risk factors of glaucoma, to get precautionary eye tests once a year. The Gothenburg study also confirmed hereditary factors are the prime cause behind the disease, as the study participants who were diagnosed with glaucoma were more likely to have a close relative with the same diagnosis. Such people need to be more vigilant in protecting their vision and eye from glaucoma.