Glaucoma

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Most patients with glaucoma, particularly those with open-angle glaucoma, do not exhibit any symptoms. This condition develops slowly and without noticeable change in vision for many years. In advanced cases, loss of peripheral vision, tunnel vision, or patchy blind spots in your peripheral or central vision may occur. Patients with angle-closure glaucoma typically do display symptoms.

Common symptoms of glaucoma include:

• Appearance of “halos” around bright lights
• Eye pain
• Eye redness
• Loss of peripheral vision or tunnel vision
• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe headache

Risk Factors for Glaucoma

Certain people are at greater risk of developing glaucoma.

Risk factors for glaucoma may include:

• Age: While glaucoma can occur at any age, it typically affects those over the age of 60.
• Family history: A family history of glaucoma can increase your risk of developing the condition. Additionally, African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics are at higher risk for developing glaucoma than other races.
• Health history: Glaucoma is associated with a history of diabetes or high blood pressure, low or high eye pressure, past eye surgery or injury, a thin cornea, older age, poor long-distance vision (severe nearsightedness), poor short-distance vision (severe farsightedness), or use of corticosteroids, such as eye drops, pills, inhalers, and creams.

Treating Glaucoma at UT Health Austin

Treatment is dependent on the number of risk factors, the type of glaucoma, and the severity of the disease. Your glaucoma specialist will provide the most current, evidence-based treatment recommendations, which may include medication (eye drops, injections, or oral medications), laser therapy, or surgery. Your first visit often takes 2-4 hours based on the complexity of your case and any in-clinic testing that may be required.

Care Team Approach

At UT Health Austin, we take a multidisciplinary approach to your care. This means you will benefit from the expertise of multiple specialists across a variety of disciplines. Your care team will include fellowship-trained ophthalmologists, ophthalmic technicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers, and more who work together to help you get back to the things in your life that matter most to you. We also collaborate with our colleagues at the Dell Medical School and The University of Texas at Austin to utilize the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment techniques, allowing us to identify new therapies to improve treatment outcomes. We are committed to communicating and coordinating your care with your other healthcare providers to ensure that we are providing you with comprehensive, whole-person care.

Learn More About Your Care Team