Glaucoma


Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage your eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness.  It is one of the leading causes of blindness in Australia, affecting approximately 3% of the population.  It is more common with advancing age, and in women.  Nearly half of people with glaucoma do not even know they have the disease.

While there is no cure for glaucoma, the good news is that if diagnosed early, the disease can usually be controlled with ongoing treatment and blindness can be prevented.


What Causes Glaucoma?


Glaucoma usually occurs when a build up of fluid in your eye puts increased pressure on the nerve that sends images from your eye to your brain for processing.  Eventually, the pressure damages the optic nerve at the back of your eye and side vision is gradually reduced.  However, glaucoma is not simply a case of "high eye pressure" diagnosed by measuring the pressure in your eye.  Ninety percent of people with elevated pressure do not have glaucoma, and up to one third of those with glaucoma have a "normal" eye pressure.  In some people the damage to the optic nerve may be caused by other factors which are not fully understood.

Whatever the cause, the risk is that because there are often no symptoms, the nerve damage can go unnoticed until a significant proportion of sight has been lost.  Glaucoma is often called the "sneak thief of sight" because it develops without obvious symptoms. Therefore, the person with glaucoma is usually unaware they have glaucoma until serious loss of vision has occurred.  In fact, half of those suffering damage from glaucoma are unaware they have the disease.  As the damage from glaucoma cannot be reversed, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment by your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) is vital to preserve your vision.


Risk Factors


It is estimated that there are 300,000 people in Australia with glaucoma with nearly 50% unaware they have the disease.   Although anyone can get glaucoma, it does increase with age and some people are at higher risk. 

People at higher risk include anyone:

  • With diabetes or high blood pressure
  • Who suffers from migraines, Raynauds phenomenon or heart attack / stroke
  • Who is short sighted
  • Who has suffered a previous eye injury
  • Who uses or has used steroids


If you are in this risk group you should have your eyes checked for glaucoma no later than the age of 35.  For everyone else it is recommended to have your eyes checked by age of 40 and every two years thereafter.


Click Here for more information about the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma