Content
Glaucoma is a disease in the eyes that is characterized by an increase in intraocular pressure or a fragility of the optic nerve.
The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma, which does not cause any pain or any other symptoms that may indicate increased intraocular pressure. Closed angle glaucoma, which is the least common type, can cause pain and redness in the eyes.
Therefore, in case of suspicion, one should go to the ophthalmologist to perform the exams and start the appropriate treatment for glaucoma and thus prevent loss of vision. Find out which exams you should take.
Advanced signs of glaucoma
Main symptoms
This eye disease develops slowly, over months or years and, at an early stage, causes no symptoms. However, some symptoms that may arise in case of angle-closure glaucoma include:
- Decreased field of view, as if tapering;
- Intense pain inside the eye;
- Increase in the pupil, which is the black part of the eye, or the size of the eyes;
- Blurred and blurred vision;
- Redness of the eye;
- Difficulty seeing in the dark;
- View of arches around the lights;
- Watery eyes and excessive sensitivity to light;
- Severe headache, nausea and vomiting.
In some people, the only sign of increased pressure in the eyes is a decrease in lateral vision.
When a person has these symptoms, he or she must go to the ophthalmologist to start treatment, since when untreated, glaucoma can lead to loss of vision.
If any family member has glaucoma, their children and grandchildren should have an eye exam at least 1 time before age 20, and again after age 40, which is when glaucoma usually begins to manifest. Find out what causes can lead to glaucoma.
Watch the following video and understand how the diagnosis of glaucoma is made:
What are the symptoms in the baby
Symptoms of congenital glaucoma are present in children who are already born with glaucoma, and are usually whitish eyes, sensitivity to light and enlarged eyes.
Congenital glaucoma can be diagnosed until 3 years of age, but it can be diagnosed shortly after birth, however, the most common is that it is discovered between 6 months and 1 year of life. Its treatment can be done with eye drops to lower the internal pressure of the eye, but the main treatment is surgery.
Glaucoma is a chronic condition and therefore has no cure and the only way to guarantee vision for life is to carry out the treatments indicated by the doctor. Find out more details here.
Online test to know the risk of glaucoma
This test of just 5 questions serves to indicate what your risk of glaucoma is and is based on the risk factors for that disease.
Choose only the statement that best suits you.
Start the test
My family history:
- I have no family member with glaucoma.
- My son has glaucoma.
- At least one of my grandparents, father or mother has glaucoma.
My race is:
- White, descended from Europeans.
- Indigenous.
- Eastern.
- Mixed, typically Brazilian.
- Black.
My age is:
- Under 40 years old.
- Between 40 and 49 years.
- Between 50 and 59 years.
- 60 years or older.
My eye pressure on previous exams was:
- Less than 21 mmHg.
- Between 21 and 25 mmHg.
- More than 25 mmHg.
- I don't know the value or I never took the eye pressure test.
What can I say about my health:
- I am healthy and I have no disease.
- I have a disease but I don't take corticosteroids.
- I have diabetes or myopia.
- I use corticosteroids regularly.
- I have some eye disease.