Around 350,000 people may have the condition and not know it, and Doctor Sally Ameen has issued a warning
An eye condition could leave you blind if left untreated. And a doctor is warning that it develops slowly – so you may not notice until serious damage has happened.
Now people are being urged to look out for strange visual clues around lights. In addition, while the condition can be serious, there are things you can do protect your eyes.
Today marks World Glaucoma Day (March 12) and experts are encouraging individuals to prioritise their health, especially their eyes. Known as the “silent thief of sight” for its ability to develop unnoticed, glaucoma can cause irreversible vision loss if left untreated.
One early warning sign to watch for is seeing halos or rings around lights. Across the UK, around 700,000 people have the condition – and half of them don’t know, according to Glaucoma UK. Because of this, Doctor Sally Ameen, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at OCL Vision, warns the condition often develops so gradually that many people don’t realise there’s a problem until significant damage has already occurred.
She warns: “By the time you notice a change in your vision, it could already be too late to restore what’s been lost.” But there are things you can do to ensure you prevent this as much as you can by looking out for key signs.
1. Does your vision narrow?
Do you have difficulty seeing things at the edges of your vision? If so, you might be experiencing tunnel vision. This condition can develop gradually with glaucoma and is often overlooked until it becomes severe.
2. Do colours seem duller?
“If colours appear less vibrant or you’re struggling to distinguish between shades, it could be a subtle clue that something isn’t right. Raise your concerns with an optometrist so that they can rule out the possibility of it being glaucoma,” the doctor warns.
3. Do you see halos around lights?
Dr Ameen warns: “If streetlights or car headlights appear to have glowing rings around them, it’s not just your eyes playing tricks on you. This could be an early sign of increased pressure in the eye, a hallmark of glaucoma.”
4. Do you get frequent headaches?
If you have “recurring headaches, particularly those that worsen with screen time or low lighting”, she cautions that it “may be more than just tension or fatigue” and in fact, it “could signal an issue with your eye’s drainage system.”
5. Do you need to change your glasses prescription a lot?
In her final warning, she cautions that while it’s normal for prescriptions to change over time, frequent changes requiring significant adjustments could signal an underlying condition like glaucoma.
She warns: “Glaucoma doesn’t discriminate and can affect anyone. Those over 40, with a family history of the condition, or who are of African, Caribbean, or Asian descent are at higher risk. Regular eye tests are crucial – not only can they detect glaucoma early, but they can also pick up other serious health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure.
“The key to protecting your vision is catching glaucoma early,” Dr Ameen adds. “Many people dismiss the signs as minor inconveniences, but they can be your eyes’ way of crying out for help.
“Don’t wait for symptoms to escalate. Book an eye test today and encourage your loved ones to do the same if they are experiencing similar vision problems. With modern treatments and early intervention, glaucoma doesn’t have to lead to vision loss.”
