Uncle Li is 68 years old this year and has always been in good health, the only thing that worries him is that his vision has become a little blurry recently. At first, he didn't care, thinking that it was normal for him to see things clearly when he was older. But one day, when he was driving home at night, he suddenly felt a rainbow-like halo of lights appear in front of him, and his vision became extremely blurry. Uncle Li was startled, quickly stopped the car, and after rubbing his eyes, although his eyesight recovered slightly, he still felt uneasy.
The next day, Uncle Li came to the hospital for an eye examination. After a series of detailed examinations, the doctor told him the shocking news - he had glaucoma and was already in the middle stage. Uncle Li was very confused, why did he have no warning at all, how could he suddenly get this disease?
Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can lead to irreversible vision damage and even blindness if left undetected and treated. Glaucoma often has no obvious symptoms in its early stages and is easy to overlook. Uncle Li's experience made us realize how important it is to recognize the symptoms of glaucoma at an early stage.
Why are the early symptoms of glaucoma insidious
Glaucoma is a disease characterized by optic nerve damage and visual field defects, and common types include open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. Despite its severity, its early symptoms are often insidious, and many patients have progressed to a more severe stage when they feel significantly unwell. There are several reasons for this:
1. Symptoms are subtle and progressive
A distinctive feature of glaucoma is that its early symptoms are subtle and the disease progresses slowly. Most people with glaucoma don't experience significant pain or sudden loss of vision in the early stages, making it difficult for them to realize they have the disease. Even occasional mild discomfort, such as blurred vision and swollen eyes, is often perceived as a normal sign of fatigue or presbyopia and not associated with glaucoma.
2. Visual field defects are difficult to detect initially
Glaucoma mainly damages the optic nerve, causing the field of vision to gradually shrink. However, this visual field defect is often very subtle in the early stages and is difficult for the patient to detect in everyday life. Usually, a person's visual field is formed by the combined action of both eyes, and early visual field defects, even if present in one eye, can be compensated by the normal visual field of the other eye, making it difficult for the patient to notice changes in vision.
3. Nocturnal symptoms are easy to ignore
People with glaucoma may experience blurred vision or halos at night or in low-light environments, which are relieved during the day or when there is enough light. As a result, many patients do not associate their vision problems at night with glaucoma, believing that they are only temporary vision discomfort. As a result of this neglect, many people fail to seek medical attention in a timely manner, missing out on opportunities for early detection and treatment.
4. Mistaken for age-related vision problems
Vision loss in the elderly is a common phenomenon, and many middle-aged and elderly people think that blurred vision and unclear vision are normal aging processes. As a result, even if the early symptoms of glaucoma appear, they rarely think of getting their eyes checked.
5. Lack of awareness of regular eye examinations
Many people don't have the habit of having regular eye exams, especially if there is no significant discomfort. The early symptoms of glaucoma are insidious and difficult to detect through routine eye examinations, and can only be detected by professional eye examinations, such as intraocular pressure measurements, visual field tests, and fundus examinations. However, due to the lack of awareness of regular check-ups, many people miss out on the opportunity to detect and treat glaucoma early.
Doctors give 4 key tips
Regular eye check-ups for early detection of hidden glaucoma
Glaucoma is often asymptomatic in the early stages, and many patients are found in the middle and late stages. Regular eye exams are key to early detection of glaucoma. People over the age of 40 should have an annual eye exam, and those with a family history of glaucoma are recommended to have an eye exam every six months. Routine tests include tonometry, visual field testing, and fundus examination.
Intraocular pressure measurement is an important means of glaucoma screening, and patients with glaucoma usually have elevated intraocular pressure, and the risk of glaucoma can be preliminarily determined by intraocular pressure measurement. Visual field testing can help doctors know if the optic nerve is damaged, and glaucoma often leads to visual field defects, and early detection of this change can lead to prompt treatment. Fundus examination is used to determine the presence of glaucoma by observing changes in the optic nerve disc, which is an important indication of glaucoma.
Changes in night vision to capture early signs of glaucoma
Blurred vision at night or difficulty seeing in the dark can be an early sign of glaucoma. Patients with glaucoma have a large change in intraocular pressure at night, which is prone to vision problems. Blurred vision is frequent at night, a cause for concern. Increased eye pressure can lead to a decrease in the eye's ability to adjust to low-light conditions, resulting in blurred vision.
In addition, changes in night vision may also manifest as slow adaptation to vision in alternating light and dark environments, such as when moving from a bright room to a dim outdoors, it takes a long time for the eyes to adjust to the change in light. This phenomenon is common in patients with glaucoma and is due to damage to the optic nerve that leads to reduced visual adaptability. When the above symptoms appear, you should seek medical attention in time for a detailed examination so that glaucoma can be detected and treated early.
Pay attention to headaches and eye pain, and be alert to iridescence
Early symptoms of glaucoma also include intermittent headaches and eye pain. This pain often manifests as pressure in the eyes or head, and is sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Headaches and eye pain caused by glaucoma are often not taken seriously by patients and are often mistaken for general headaches or eye strain. Recurrent headaches and eye pain, especially if accompanied by vision loss, should raise suspicion of glaucoma.
Iridescent vision is also a typical symptom of glaucoma. Iridis is when a patient looks at a light and a rainbow circle appears around it. The iridis phenomenon is caused by increased intraocular pressure and corneal edema. When iridium occurs, the frequency and duration of symptoms should be recorded and medical attention should be sought as soon as possible. Doctors can determine if glaucoma is possible through examinations and intervene early to prevent further damage to vision.
Family history and self-health management to reduce the risk of glaucoma
Glaucoma has a certain genetic predisposition, and if there is a glaucoma patient in the family, the risk of developing it in other members is also increased. Therefore, knowing the family history is essential to prevent glaucoma. If there is a family history of glaucoma, more frequent eye examinations are recommended for early detection and intervention.
Maintaining a good lifestyle and a healthy body can reduce the risk of developing glaucoma. Diseases such as high blood pressure and abnormal glucose metabolism are related to glaucoma, so controlling blood pressure and blood sugar has a positive effect on the prevention of glaucoma. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising properly can help maintain overall health and reduce the risk of developing glaucoma.
In addition, avoiding prolonged eye use, especially reading books, looking at mobile phones, etc., in low-light environments, can reduce the burden on your eyes. Regular rest and good sleep habits are important for eye health. If you experience eye discomfort, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid delaying the condition.