Risks:
- Above the age of 35, more so if 60 or older
- High blood pressure
- Pregnancy
- Family History of Glaucoma
- Asian, African, and Hispanic ancestry
- Steroid use
- Moderate or High Myopia
- Cataracts
- Other systemic Diseases e.g. diabetes, liver disease
Usually there are no early signs or symptoms, and progressive loss of peripheral vision goes unnoticed. East Asians and Singaporeans are more susceptible to developing closed-angle glaucoma, in which increases to eye pressure are abrupt and significant as opposed to slow and small in open-angle glaucoma. Risk of this condition increases with age as issues mount with proper fluid drainage for ageing eyes, causing a build-up of pressure within (intraocular pressure).
Some patients may experience sudden sharp eye pain, nausea, headaches, and visual disturbances such as light halos or blurriness from elevated eye pressure. At this stage, it is a medical emergency. Blindness through damage to the optic nerve can be prevented if glaucoma is detected and managed early.
