The Silent Thief of Sight...
Glaucoma often has no symptoms
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects your eye to your brain, gets damaged. This damage is often caused by a build-up of fluid in the eye, which increases the pressure inside. If not caught and treated early, it can lead to vision loss, and even blindness.
BEST CAUGHT EARLY
- Regular eye exams are crucial for early detection.
- Early treatment can help prevent further vision loss.
- If you experience sudden and severe eye pain, contact us immediately.
Risk Factors of Glaucoma
Glaucoma affects around 700,000 people in the UK alone. We have listed below some of those who may be at higher risk of the disease.
AGE
A sad fact of life is that the risk of glaucoma increases as you become older.
ETHNICITY
People of African, Caribbean, or Asian origin have a higher risk of developing glaucoma.
FAMILY HISTORY
If you have a close relative with glaucoma, you're more likely to develop it.
OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Conditions like diabetes, short-sightedness (myopia), and long-sightedness (hyperopia) can increase your risk.
EYE PRESSURE
Having high intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye) increases the risk of developing glaucoma.
If you fall into any of the risk categories above, and you haven't had a sight exam for more than two years, please ensure you book today.
If you're aged 40 or over and your mother, father, sibling or child has been diagnosed with glaucoma, you qualify for an NHS funded sight examination.
Types of Glaucoma
Chronic glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. The eye pressure rises very slowly and the field of vision gradually becomes impaired. Acute glaucoma is much less common and can happen suddenly. It can be quite painful and will cause permanent damage to your sight if not treated promptly.
We offer Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) at all stores, which can be a valuable tool for detecting glaucoma early. This hospital-grade technology measures the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), which is often affected in the early stages of the disease. This allows for earlier diagnosis compared to traditional methods like visual field testing alone.
Very often, glaucoma has no symptoms
One of the sneaky things about glaucoma is that it often develops without any noticeable symptoms, especially in the early stages. This is why regular eye exams are vitally important. However, here are some potential symptoms:
- Gradual loss of peripheral vision: This is often the first sign, and it can be difficult to notice.
- Blurred vision: Your vision might become less sharp.
- Seeing halos around lights: You might see rainbow-coloured rings around bright lights.
- In acute angle-closure glaucoma: This is a less common but serious form, and symptoms can appear suddenly: Intense eye pain, nausea and vomiting, red eye, headache.
Diet can help boost eye health
While diet alone cannot cure glaucoma, certain dietary choices can definitely support overall eye health and may play a role in managing the condition.
Leafy green vegetables
Rich in antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, which are beneficial for eye health. Examples include spinach, kale and collard greens.
Fruits and vegetables
A variety of colourful fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C. Berries, citrus fruits and carrots are excellent choices.
Omega-3 fatty zcids
Found in oily fish (salmon, tuna, sardines), flaxseeds, and chia seeds, omega-3s may help reduce intraocular pressure.
Nuts and seeds
Good sources of vitamin E and other antioxidants.
