27/01/2026
January is national glaucoma awareness month, one of the leading causes of blindness in the UK. The World Health Organization estimates that sixty million people worldwide have glaucoma, although almost half of them do not realise they have it.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma describes a group of eye conditions that often affects both eyes when the drainage area of the eyes become slightly blocked preventing the eye fluid from draining, thus causing intraocular pressure (IOP) to increase above the normal range. This pressure can then damage the optic nerve, which carries over 1 million nerves from the eye to the brain, resulting in irreversible vision loss.
Symptoms
There can be no symptoms of glaucoma in adults until sight has deteriorated significantly, reinforcing the importance of regular eye tests to detect this serious condition. However, in some cases symptoms can vary from intense pain, redness of the eye, headache, tender eye area, seeing rings around lights and misty vision to quick loss of vision. These symptoms may not be constant, so if you are unsure, make an appointment.
Risk Factors – Are You At Risk of Glaucoma?
Age – people aged sixty years and over are more at risk of glaucoma than younger age groups.
Ethnic origin – people of African or Afro-Caribbean origin are at increased risk of developing the condition. People of Asian origin are also at increased risk of developing acute angle-closure glaucoma.
Short-sightedness (myopia) – people who are short-sighted are more likely to develop chronic open-angle glaucoma.
Ocular hypertension (OHT or raised pressure in the eye) – people with OHT are at increased risk of developing chronic open-angle glaucoma.
Family history – if glaucoma is present within your immediate family you are of greater risk of developing the condition.
Diabetes – people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing glaucoma.
There is no cure for glaucoma to date; however glaucoma treatments generally work by lowering the pressure inside the eye so that no further damage to the optic nerve occurs. The appropriate treatment depends upon the type of glaucoma among other factors. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease. Treatments include, eye drops, laser treatment or surgery.
