Acute Glaucoma occurs suddenly and produces extreme pain and blurring of vision in a reddened eye. This condition needs immediate medical attention.

Surgery on the eye within 40 hours after the onset of symptoms will usually result in a permanent cure. If untreated, blindness eventually develops. There may be a series of minor attacks of acute glaucoma which settle down with minimum to no loss of vision, However, with each attack increasing in severity, eventually a major acute attack will occur which will necessitate immediate surgery to prevent the onset of blindness.

Chronic Glaucoma has a gradual onset and occurs in both eyes of the older age groups over 40. In the early stages, it is generally without symptoms. There may need to change glasses more frequently and the gradual onset of a feeling of fullness about the eyes. A coloured rainbow effect may be seen around artificial lights and there may be a gradual loss of peripheral vision especially on the nasal side of the eyes. Over a period of years the pressure inside the eye will be persistently elevated. Vision can deteriorate and if untreated, blindness will develop.

Eyedrops are used in the early stages of chronic glaucoma. The condition needs careful supervision and you should not miss your regular check up with your eye specialist.

Fortunately, surgery to prevent permanent loss of vision is only needed in the minority of cases and consists of the use of laser which can be operated generally in the doctor’s surgery.

Glaucoma is associated with hardening of the arteries and with heart disease. A frequent need to change glasses may be a sign of glaucoma.