Glaucoma is a common eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. It is usually caused by a build-up of fluid which increases pressure in the eye. It usually affects people in their 70s and 80s but can affect people of all ages.

Glaucoma does not usually cause any symptoms to begin with. This is why it’s important to get your eyes checked regularly, particularly if you have a family history of glaucoma. Glaucoma can lead to sight loss if not diagnosed and treated.

If you have glaucoma and have any urgent concerns about it, please contact your eye clinic or visit your optician as soon as you can.

There’s more information about glaucoma on the NHS website and on Glaucoma UK’s website page About glaucoma.

This animation looks at the journey for a patient from being diagnosed with glaucoma at a routine eye test, through to their treatment in the hospital.

Here is a video about what glaucoma is from University Hospitals Birmingham:

Glaucoma usually develops slowly over many years and affects the edges of your vision (peripheral vision) first. For this reason, many people do not realise they have glaucoma and it's often only picked up during a routine eye test.

If you do notice symptoms, they might include blurred vision, or seeing rainbow-coloured circles around bright lights. Both eyes are usually affected, although it may be worse in one eye. Very occasionally, glaucoma can develop suddenly and cause:

  • intense eye pain
  • nausea and vomiting
  • a red eye
  • a headache
  • tenderness around the eyes
  • seeing rings around lights
  • blurred vision

Here is a video describing symptoms of glaucoma from University Hospitals Birmingham:

Glaucoma is usually picked up during a routine eye test at your opticians. They test for glaucoma using a machine called a tonometer which blows a tiny puff of air onto your eye. This measures eye pressure by the eye’s resistance to the puff of air.

If the test suggests that you have glaucoma, you will be referred to a hospital eye clinic for further tests. These could include an eye pressure (intra ocular pressure) test, a visual acuity test, a visual field test and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan. You’ll find more information about these tests on the eye tests page.

There’s more information about diagnosis of glaucoma here on the NHS website.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to reverse any sight loss caused by glaucoma, but treatment can help prevent further sight loss and eye damage.

Treatment includes:

  • Eye drops that lower the pressure in the eye are the most common treatment for glaucoma.
  • Laser treatment can open up the blocked drainage system to improve the drainage of fluid or reduce production of the fluid.
  • Surgery is a further option that can also improve the drainage of fluid.

The NHS website has more information about treatments for glaucoma. Glaucoma UK also has information here.

If you have glaucoma, you will need regular appointments to check the condition and change your treatment if needed. These appointments may be at a hospital eye clinic or with a specialist optometrist at an opticians.