Does Glaucoma Cause Eye Pain?
Did you know that glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide? Learning about this progressive eye condition is crucial, as early detection can help save your vision.
However, despite how common the condition is, many patients don’t know the symptoms and signs of glaucoma. Keep reading to learn more about whether glaucoma causes eye pain, and how you can prevent the condition from damaging your vision.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an umbrella term referring to a group of eye conditions that cause optic nerve damage. The optic nerve carries visual information to your brain, allowing you to see what’s in front of you.
In a healthy eye, a fluid called aqueous humor consistently flows in and out through the drainage angle, maintaining good intraocular pressure. In patients with glaucoma, this drainage angle is obstructed, preventing fluid from leaving the eye and leading to a rise in eye pressure.
Elevated intraocular pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss.
Is Glaucoma Painful?
Depending on which type of glaucoma you have, symptoms can vary. Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the condition, is painless and typically does not present with symptoms until significant damage has already occurred.
As the condition progresses, you may notice blind spots in your peripheral vision. If you have closed-angle glaucoma, you are at risk of having an acute closed-angle attack, where the drainage angle closes off completely, resulting in a sudden rise in eye pressure.
This can cause severe eye pain and other symptoms, including:
- Forehead pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seeing rainbows or halos
- Blurry vision
- Red eyes
An acute closed-angle glaucoma attack is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention to prevent rapid vision loss.
How Do I Know If I Have Glaucoma?
Because open-angle glaucoma often has no symptoms, regular eye exams with your eye doctor at Mid Ohio Eye are the best way to help protect your eyesight and treat the condition before it causes irreversible damage. They may perform a variety of tests to detect signs of glaucoma, including:
Gonioscopy
Using a mirrored lens, your eye doctor can view the drainage angle of your eye to screen for signs of glaucoma and determine the type of glaucoma you have.
Tonometry
The most common indicator of glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure. To measure this, your eye doctor will administer numbing eye drops and use a tonometer to get a reading.
However, you can still have glaucoma even if your eye pressure is normal.
Ophthalmoscopy
To examine your optic nerve, your eye doctor may dilate your eyes and use a magnifying lens to look for signs of damage. They may also photograph the optic nerve.
Pachymetry
To ensure tonometry readings are accurate, your eye doctor may measure the thickness of your cornea by numbing your eyes and using a pachymeter instrument.
Visual Field Testing
Visual field testing can help determine whether you’re experiencing abnormalities in your peripheral or side vision. Your eye doctor will have you sit in front of a device and push a button when you see flashing lights.
How is Glaucoma Treated?
Once you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, your treatment will largely depend on which type of glaucoma you have and how far the condition has progressed. Treatment options offered at Mid Ohio Eye include:
- Medicated eye drops
- Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT)
- Laser iridotomy
- Trabeculectomy
- Aqueous shunt surgery
- iStent
Most glaucoma treatments help treat the condition by reducing intraocular pressure, which prevents further damage to the optic nerve.
Do you want to learn more about glaucoma and how regular eye exams can help protect your vision? Schedule an appointment at Mid Ohio Eye in Columbus, OH, today!
