Factsheets Glaucoma

Facts about Glaucoma:

• Glaucoma affects up to half a million people in the UK.
• Around a quarter of a million people don't know they have glaucoma
• Glaucoma is the second largest cause of unnecessary sight loss in the UK.
• Glaucoma may not have any symptoms in its early stages.
• People can lose up to 40 per cent of their sight before they realise they have a problem.
• Regular sight tests are crucial to detect early signs of the disease.
• Without a regular eye test you may not find out until it is too late for treatment.
• If detected early the prospects of avoiding sight loss through treatment are excellent.
• People of African origin are more at risk of developing Glaucoma
• People who have a history of Glaucoma have an increased likelihood of developing Glaucoma
• People who are very short sighted may be more likely to develop Glaucoma

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve and nerve cells called rods and cones.  This usually because the pressure in the fluid that keeps the eye football shaped is too high.  

• Open angular glaucoma – this is the most common type of glaucoma
• Low-tension or normal-tension glaucoma
• Angle-closure glaucoma
• Congenital glaucoma
• Secondary glaucoma’s. These can develop as complications of other medical conditions

Affects of Glaucoma

•  Mainly causes tunnel vision
• Loss of side (peripheral) vision
• Can be painful / headaches / inner eye pain
• Affects people’s mobility and independence, but does not necessarily affect the person’s ability to see faces, objects, colour or writing close up and clearly

Signs that someone may have Glaucoma

• People may begin to move their head from side to side to compensate for loss of peripheral vision
• People may begin to have more difficulty being independent at night or in poorly lit environments
• People may find bright sunlight uncomfortable
• People may begin to suffer from nausea or headaches (some people may resort to new or unusual behaviours such as slapping or banging their head, or poking their eyes to indicate they may be in pain)
• People may blink excessively
• People may have an excess of tears

As many of these symptoms can be related to other conditions or communication behaviours, it is important that people attend regular eye checks.

The only definite way of identifying Glaucoma is for people to receive regular eye tests.

Treatments for Glaucoma

There are three main ways of treating Glaucoma, and sometimes they are use in combination. These are:

• Medicines & Eye Drops. Medicines and usually eye drops are used in most early cases of Glaucoma and help reduce fluid pressure, or make fluid thicker, which will prevent damage to the optic nerve.  It is important to remember that when taking eye drops for glaucoma that:
  • These drops often need to taken daily, and often for a lifetime.
  •  Glaucoma is life long condition it is important not to stop taking them unless told to by the eye hospital.
  • Some eye drops may cause stinging, redness and blurring.  However, there are a number of different drugs for Glaucoma and if these problems occur talk to your eye doctor about changing drops.
  • People need to put there drops in safely and correctly. They may need help to do this themselves or will need help from supporters. Laser treatments 
  • Laser treatment helps reduce fluid pressure in the eye.
  • Laser treatment usually performed on individual when they are awake and will need individual to keep very still whilst the eye doctor comes very close to your eye with a  laser machine. Some people will not be able to tolerate this.

• In more serious cases of glaucoma, surgery may be considered to relieve fluid pressure in the eye. This requires use of an operating microscope and a local anaesthetic, though if unable to tolerate this operating under general has been considered.

June 2009

Related Information:

Adapting Accommodation for People with Learning Disabilities

Eye Drops for People with Learning Disabilities

Eye Poking and Touching in People with Learning Disabilities

Eye Poking and Touching - Strategies for Supporting People

Eye Surgery for People with Learning Disabilities

Low Vision Services for People with Learning Disabilities

Recognising Eye Problems in People with Learning Disabilities 1

Recognising Eye Problems in People with Learning Disabilities 2

The Need for an Eye Examination