Everything you need to know about glaucoma, according to a Singapore optometrist

Imagine that you’re slowly losing your sight – without realising that it’s happening. This is the silent threat of glaucoma. Often referred to as the silent thief of sight, glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damages the optic nerve of your eyes and can lead to vision loss and blindness.  

In the early stages, it typically shows no symptoms, making it hard to diagnose. It’s the reason why about half of those with glaucoma don’t even know that they have it. In Singapore, about 3% of the population aged above 40 is affected by this insidious eye condition, according to the National University Hospital, while 40% of cases of blindness are caused by glaucoma, says the Singapore National Eye Centre.  

The best way to prevent glaucoma is to get your eyes checked regularly by an optometrist, who may be able to detect early signs of glaucoma. But before delving into that, it’s important to learn the basics of glaucoma so you’re fully equipped to protect your sight. In commemoration of World Glaucoma Week, here is a brief guide to everything you need to know about glaucoma, from its causes to common misconceptions.

There are multiple forms of glaucoma. The main ones are open-angle glaucoma, closed-angle glaucoma, and normal-tension glaucoma.  

Open-angle glaucoma is considered the most common type, often linked to people with high blood pressure. It’s the form of glaucoma where you most likely will not notice any symptoms until you start losing your vision. We know that this condition may be the result of pressure building up in the eye due to fluid not draining quickly enough, which puts pressure against the optic nerve and damages it. Over time, this damage to the optic nerve can lead to vision impairment and, in some cases, blindness. While we have a clear understanding of the physiological effects on the eyes, the exact root causes remain uncertain. 

What’s more, it’s entirely possible to have open-angle glaucoma even when you have normal eye pressure. This is known as normal-tension glaucoma. The risk of developing normal-tension glaucoma is higher if you have low blood pressure, heart issues such as an irregular heartbeat, or a family history of this form of glaucoma.  

The most concerning form of glaucoma is closed-angle glaucoma, which occurs when the outer edge of the iris blocks fluid from draining out of the eye. Symptoms come on suddenly and include severe eye pain, nausea, red eye, and blurred vision. This is the most dangerous type of glaucoma, as it can lead to blindness within just a few days.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma. As for prevention, it depends on the form of glaucoma.  

Open-angle glaucoma cannot be prevented, but early detection by a trusted optometrist in Singapore like Chew’s Optics, can help protect your vision. After detecting signs of glaucoma, your optometrist can then refer you to an ophthalmologist, who can make further evaluations and ultimately treat you to prevent drastic visual damage or blindness. 

Closed-angle glaucoma, on the flip side, can be prevented in its early stages with laser treatment.

When most people think of glaucoma, they often associate it with the aging population, assuming it’s primarily an “old person’s condition”. While it’s true that the prevalence of glaucoma increases with age (about 10% of those over 70 are affected), here’s a sobering fact: glaucoma can also affect the young. In fact, research shows that juvenile open-angle glaucoma, which affects individuals between the ages of 2 and 18, occurs in about 1 in 50,000 people. 

So what is it like to have glaucoma? When you start losing your vision, the process is gradual, making it difficult to notice at first. It typically starts with your peripheral vision, which can be tricky because, even though we use it constantly, we rarely focus on the details. This makes it hard to realise when we’re experiencing peripheral vision loss.  

As your glaucoma worsens, you may develop tunnel vision and realise that you can no longer use your peripheral sight. Over time, this progresses towards complete blindness. In certain cases, glaucoma may develop in one eye at a time. This can also be difficult to detect because your brain often compensates by relying more on the healthier eye.

To protect yourself from the debilitating effects of glaucoma, it’s essential to have regular eye exams with a certified optometrist. Regular check-ups are a must because you never know when the first signs of glaucoma will show up, and only a professional optometrist can spot them.  

At Chew’s Optics, we offer comprehensive eye exams that include glaucoma screening, where we test your intraocular pressure to check for signs of the condition. The process is simple, painless and, best of all, affordable, with exams starting from just S$20 per session. In addition, we may offer the screening as an added service on top of a purchase. 

Our optical shop is located at 144 Teck Whye Lane, #01-211, Singapore. We are open every day except Mondays and Fridays. You can also drop us a line on WhatsApp at +65 8314 7093, if you have any questions.