People with a family history of glaucoma must plan regular, comprehensive eye check-ups (those that include eye drops to check the back of your eye). Risk factors include:

• Age over 60 years
• High myopia, and in cases of angle-closure glaucoma (see below), hyperopia
• African, or South Asian ancestry
• Diabetes, high blood pressure, migraine, sleep apnea

• Eye trauma or prior surgeries
• Prolonged steroid use

Glaucoma is estimated to affect about 1 in 30,000 people, and its prevalence varies by population; African and Asian ethnicities seem to be at a higher risk. [1]

• Primary Open-angle Glaucoma
  This is the most common type of glaucoma that is diagnosed in India and South Asia. The anterior chamber, the space between the cornea and the iris, appears normal in patients with open-angle glaucoma, but the intraocular pressure—the pressure in the eye— increases due to slow drainage from the chamber.
  
  POAG is a chronic condition, has no early symptoms, but results in permanent damage to the optic nerve, leading to vision loss. Some patients have a variant called ‘Normal Tension’ glaucoma where no increased ocular pressure is apparent but there is notable damage to the optic nerve.
• Angle-Closure Glaucoma
  In people with this condition, there is a pronounced closure of the anterior chamber as the iris has moved to block the flow of the eye’s fluids. It presents with sudden, acute vision loss. There may even be eye pain and nausea. Angle-closure glaucoma is of two types: primary and secondary. In secondary angle-closure, some other issue (like Uveitis) triggers the angle-closure.
• Childhood Glaucoma
  Known also as congenital, developmental, or juvenile glaucoma, congenital glaucoma is a rare condition that is found in infants, children, or young adults. In its congenital form, any abnormal development of the eye’s drainage system in infants can trigger blockage of the drainage system, resulting in glaucoma. The prevalence of congenital glaucoma is about 1 in 3,300 births in India. [2]
• Secondary Glaucoma
  Glaucoma that is triggered by other causes including, steroid use, or injury.

Symptoms include:

• Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision

• Blind spots in your vision

• Eye pain, headache, redness (mostly in angle-closure glaucoma)

• Blurry vision, halos around lights

• In babies: Cloudy eyes, larger than normal eyes, excessive tearing

Most types, especially open-angle glaucoma, do not cause pain or early symptoms, making regular eye exams essential.

Treatment aims to lower intraocular pressure and prevent further nerve damage. Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored, but the condition’s progression can be slowed or stopped.

• Medications: Daily eye drops to reduce eye pressure; beta blockers, prostaglandin analogs, and other such medication may be prescribed to treat
• Laser Therapy: Used in open-angle, angle-closure, and some secondary types.
• Surgery: Procedures to improve fluid drainage, especially if medications and lasers aren’t enough.
• Lifestyle Adjustments: Protecting eyes, reviewing medications with your doctor, managing chronic conditions.