From the Guidelines
Most people cannot feel glaucoma in its early stages, as it typically develops slowly without noticeable symptoms, earning it the name "silent thief of sight". The most common type, open-angle glaucoma, usually causes no pain or vision changes until significant damage has already occurred, as noted in the 2021 study on primary open-angle glaucoma preferred practice pattern 1. However, acute angle-closure glaucoma is an exception - this rare form can cause sudden symptoms including severe eye pain, headache, nausea, blurred vision, and seeing halos around lights, requiring immediate medical attention, as suggested by the 2016 study on primary angle closure preferred practice pattern 1.
Some key symptoms to look out for include:
- Blurred vision
- Halos around lights
- Eye pain
- Headache
- Eye redness
- Symptoms following stress or dilated eye examination, as mentioned in the 2016 study 1
- Severe eye pain
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Seeing halos around lights, as indicated by the 2016 study 1
It's essential to note that some people with advanced glaucoma may experience gradual peripheral vision loss, but this often goes unnoticed until the disease is quite advanced. This lack of early warning signs makes regular eye exams crucial, especially for those over 40 or with risk factors like family history, diabetes, or high eye pressure. During these exams, an eye doctor can measure intraocular pressure, examine the optic nerve, and test visual fields to detect glaucoma before permanent vision loss occurs, as recommended by the 2021 study 1.
If diagnosed, treatment typically involves prescription eye drops to lower eye pressure, though some cases may require oral medications, laser procedures, or surgery. The severity of glaucoma damage can be estimated according to the following categories, as outlined in the 2021 study 1:
- Mild: Definite optic disc, RNFL, or macular imaging abnormalities consistent with glaucoma and a normal visual field as tested with standard automated perimetry (SAP)
- Moderate: Definite optic disc, RNFL, or macular imaging abnormalities consistent with glaucoma and visual field abnormalities in one hemifield that are not within 5 degrees of fixation as tested with SAP
From the Research
Symptoms of Glaucoma
- Glaucoma is often referred to as a "silent thief of sight" because it can cause vision loss without any noticeable symptoms in the early stages 2, 3, 4.
- The studies provided do not directly address whether glaucoma can be felt, but they do discuss the treatment and management of glaucoma, suggesting that it may not have noticeable symptoms until it has progressed.
Treatment and Management
- Prostaglandin analogues, such as latanoprost, are commonly used to treat glaucoma by reducing intraocular pressure 2, 3, 4.
- These medications can help slow or prevent vision loss, but they may not restore vision that has already been lost.
Related Research
- A study on mental illness found that individuals with untreated mental health problems may not seek help due to their beliefs about the causes of their condition 5.
- However, this study is not directly related to glaucoma or its symptoms, and does not provide information on whether glaucoma can be felt.
Available Information
- The available research papers do not provide a direct answer to the question of whether glaucoma can be felt, as they focus on treatment and management rather than symptoms.