Lifestyle

Glaucoma Often Has No Symptoms Until Vision Is Lost. Who Is Most at Risk and When to Get Checked

By Curtis Jones · October 28, 2026

The most common form of glaucoma gives little warning. It can damage vision for years before a person notices anything is wrong, and the vision it takes cannot be restored.

The National Eye Institute describes glaucoma as a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging the optic nerve in the back of the eye. At first, the institute says, glaucoma usually has no symptoms, which is why half of people with glaucoma do not know they have it.

Mayo Clinic says glaucoma can happen at any age but is more common in older adults, and that it is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. The damage is often related to high pressure inside the eye, though glaucoma can also occur with typical eye pressure.

How vision changes. The most common type in the United States is open-angle glaucoma, according to the NEI. Over time, the institute says, people slowly lose vision, usually starting with side vision, especially the part closest to the nose. Mayo Clinic describes patchy blind spots in side vision and, in later stages, difficulty seeing things in central vision. Because the change is so gradual, many people do not notice it at first.

Who is most at risk. The NEI says anyone can get glaucoma, but risk is higher for people who are over 60, especially if they are Hispanic or Latino, African Americans over 40 and people with a family history of the disease. Mayo Clinic adds these:

High eye pressure. Raised pressure inside the eye, also called intraocular pressure, is the risk factor Mayo Clinic lists first.

Health conditions. These include diabetes, migraine, high blood pressure and sickle cell anemia.

Eye traits. Corneas that are thin in the center and extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness are on the list.

Injury and medicines. An eye injury, certain types of eye surgery and long-term use of corticosteroid medicines, especially eye drops, can raise risk.

When to get checked. The NEI says the only way to find out whether you have glaucoma is a comprehensive dilated eye exam, which includes a visual field test to check side vision. People at higher risk need that exam every one to two years, the institute says. Mayo Clinic, citing the American Academy of Ophthalmology, says that as a general rule adults ages 55 to 64 should have a comprehensive eye exam every one to three years, and those older than 65 every one to two years, with more frequent screening for people at risk.

The emergency form. A less common type, acute angle-closure glaucoma, can come on suddenly. Mayo Clinic says it happens when the iris bulges and blocks the eye’s drainage angle, so fluid cannot circulate and pressure rises. Symptoms include a bad headache, severe eye pain, nausea or vomiting, blurred vision, halos or colored rings around lights and eye redness. The NEI says anyone with sudden symptoms like these should go to a doctor or an emergency room right away, and Mayo Clinic says to go to an emergency room or call an ophthalmologist immediately.

There is no cure, but the NEI says early treatment can often stop the damage and protect vision. Treatment usually starts with prescription eye drops that lower eye pressure, and laser treatment or surgery can help fluid drain from the eye. Treatment will not undo vision loss that has already happened. Because glaucoma can run in families, the institute encourages people who have it to urge relatives to get checked.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk with your eye doctor about your risk and how often to be checked, and seek emergency care for sudden eye pain or vision changes. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and fact-checked against the sources cited by LightWave Reports.