What You Need to Know About Glaucoma and Your Vision

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. It afflicts some 3 million Americans, yet as many as half don’t know they have it because they may not experience symptoms.¹ If caught early, though, it’s possible to prevent the disease from causing vision loss. Here, we’ll give you an overview of the disease, tips for identifying and preventing it, plus a few insights on treatment.

What is glaucoma?

There are several types of glaucoma, but all of them damage the eye’s optic nerve — a bundle of fibers that connects the retina to the brain and is essential for good vision. Glaucoma can affect one or both eyes. It generally starts by limiting your peripheral (side) vision, then progresses to affecting your central vision.

Who is at risk of getting glaucoma?

Anyone can get glaucoma, but certain people are at higher risk. These include people over age 60, those with family history of the disease, and people of African, Hispanic or Asian heritage. Other risk factors include being nearsighted or farsighted, having previous eye injuries, using steroid medications over a long term and having diabetes.

How is glaucoma detected?

One challenge with glaucoma is that it often has no early symptoms. Yet catching it early is critical to prevent vision loss — especially since there is no cure for the disease. Having a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years (more frequently if you’re at higher risk) is the best way to identify glaucoma before symptoms start. Exams can also reveal hidden risk factors, such as thin corneas, high eye pressure or an abnormal optic nerve.

You can also help protect your eyes day-to-day by maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure, staying physically active and not smoking.

Can glaucoma be treated?

If you develop glaucoma, unfortunately any vision loss you experience can’t be reversed. However, proper treatment may stop the progression of the disease and preserve your remaining sight. Options may include prescription eye drops, oral medicine, surgery or a combination — all aimed at reducing pressure in the eye.

Whether you’re getting an exam or need to manage glaucoma medically or surgically, your CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a qualified vision care provider near you who accepts CareCredit.