Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions causing progressive damage to the optic nerve, typically due to elevated pressure inside the eye. It is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide — yet most people have no symptoms until significant vision is already lost. Regular eye checks and early treatment are essential.
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This page provides general health information only. If you experience sudden eye pain, redness, or vision loss, seek emergency care immediately.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma describes a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve — the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. In most cases this is related to raised intraocular pressure (IOP), though glaucoma can also occur at normal pressures. The most common type — open-angle glaucoma — develops slowly and painlessly, with peripheral vision lost gradually before the patient notices any change.
Because vision lost to glaucoma cannot be recovered, early detection through regular eye examinations is the most important protective measure. Treatment cannot restore vision already lost but can prevent further deterioration.
Symptoms
Open-angle glaucoma — the most common type — typically has no symptoms until significant vision loss has occurred. This is why it is often called the "silent thief of sight".
- Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision — often unnoticed until advanced
- Tunnel vision in late-stage disease
- Blurred vision or halos around lights
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency — sudden severe eye pain, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and halos around lights require immediate emergency treatment. Call 112 or go to an emergency department immediately.
Risk factors
- Age over 60 — risk increases significantly with age
- Family history of glaucoma — first-degree relatives have a significantly elevated risk
- Elevated intraocular pressure (ocular hypertension)
- Myopia (short-sightedness) — associated with increased open-angle glaucoma risk
- Diabetes and high blood pressure
- Long-term use of corticosteroid eye drops
- Previous eye injury or surgery
When to see a doctor
Adults over 40 with any risk factors should have regular eye pressure checks and optic nerve assessments. If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma and have moved abroad, it is essential to re-establish care promptly to ensure your treatment is continued without interruption.
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Treatment options
- Pressure-lowering eye drops — the mainstay of glaucoma treatment; prostaglandin analogues, beta-blockers, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are commonly used
- Laser trabeculoplasty — a laser procedure to improve fluid drainage from the eye
- Surgical trabeculectomy — creates a new drainage channel to lower intraocular pressure
- Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) — newer surgical options with faster recovery
- Regular monitoring — ongoing measurement of IOP and optic nerve assessment to track disease progression
How eMedClinic can help
Our ophthalmologists provide online consultations for glaucoma management, review and prescribe eye drop medications, and provide referrals for in-person examinations, tonometry, and visual field testing where needed. We are particularly well placed to support expats who need continuity of their glaucoma care in Portugal or Spain.
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