While a popular rumor says that marijuana can help treat glaucoma, the truth is that it’s an unsustainable treatment option. It does reduce intraocular pressure, but the amount that would be required is far too high. The best way to treat the affliction, is to catch it early.
What are some of the early signs of glaucoma, though? Well, many involve the same, but lesser in intensity, symptoms of the affliction itself.
Catching glaucoma early, though, is essential. So, consider reading about some of the early signs of glaucoma below!
Early Signs of Glaucoma
When does glaucoma start? The first signs start showing up in adults, and it’s rare for teenagers or children to suffer from the affliction. It’s considered early-onset glaucoma starting from the age of 40. One of the first effects of glaucoma is a slight increase in pressure in the eye, resulting in damage to the optic nerve.
The damage to the optic nerve has a variety of causes. The first signs of this damage involve a few minor symptoms. These include blurred vision, eye redness, tunnel vision, frequent eye floaters or halos, and sudden onset of headaches and eye pain. The most frequent, though, is a sensitivity to light.
Sensitivity to light is referred to as the earliest sign of glaucoma. It’s very noticeable, and people are usually most sensitive to outdoor light, whereas indoor lighting isn’t typically as irritating.
Glaucoma Symptoms
Some of the signs of glaucoma that appear early in the affliction are less intense variations of the normal symptoms. Blurred vision, specifically, can quickly turn into a more serious problem. That is partial or total vision loss. So, it’s important to differentiate between early signs and symptoms, and those that most likely means someone has glaucoma.
Headaches, as a symptom, are less deterministic. Eye or head pains are common across a wide variety of illnesses. You should consult with a medical professional, and avoid self-diagnosing glaucoma.
This is also the case for extreme eye pain. If it becomes intense in a short period of time, you should seek medical eye care immediately. It’s an indicator of glaucoma, sure, but there are other more serious afflictions related to acute eye pain.
Glaucoma Treatment Options
Glaucoma treatment involves monitoring and regulating eye pressure for vision loss prevention. Frequent screenings can catch it early, and doctors can prescribe daily eye drops for alleviating symptoms. There are also surgical interventions and laser treatments, but they’re often not recommended.
When Does Glaucoma Start
It’s easy to confuse the early signs of glaucoma with the symptoms that come with the illness. As mentioned previously, they’re often less intense versions of the actual symptoms. Sensitivity to light is usually the first sign to show up, followed by slight vision loss, difficulty focusing, tunnel vision, headaches, and eye pain.
If you experience any of these glaucoma symptoms, it’s important to avoid panicking. The first thing you should do is reach out to a medical professional for proper diagnosis and assistance. The available treatments focus on alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life.
Hopefully, this article provided you with some useful information on detecting the early signs of glaucoma. If it did, consider taking a look at some of the other posts on the site!
