This World Glaucoma Day (March 12), experts are urging people to take care of their health – particularly, pay their eye health. Dubbed the “silent thief of sight” because it can creep in unnoticed, people are being warned it can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated – and seeing rings around lights is an early sign.
Shockingly, it’s estimated around 700,000 people in the UK are living with the condition, with half of them completely unaware, according to Glaucoma UK. Because of this, Doctor Sally Ameen, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at OCL Vision, warns the condition often develops so gradually that many people don’t realise there’s a problem until significant damage has already occurred.
She warns: “By the time you notice a change in your vision, it could already be too late to restore what’s been lost.” But there are things you can do to ensure you prevent this as much as you can by looking out for key signs.
1. Seeing Halos Around Lights
Dr Ameen warns people that an early sign may be spotted when you’re out and about. She explains: “If streetlights or car headlights appear to have glowing rings around them, it’s not just your eyes playing tricks on you. This could be an early sign of increased pressure in the eye, a hallmark of glaucoma.”
2. Frequent Headaches
If you have “recurring headaches, particularly those that worsen with screen time or low lighting”, she cautions that it “may be more than just tension or fatigue” and in fact, it “could signal an issue with your eye’s drainage system.”
3. Vision Narrowing
Do you struggle to see what’s happening at the edges of your vision? If so, you could have tunnel vision. This “can develop gradually with glaucoma, and it’s easy to overlook until it becomes severe.”
4. Colours Seeming Duller
“If colours appear less vibrant or you’re struggling to distinguish between shades, it could be a subtle clue that something isn’t right. Raise your concerns with an optometrist so that they can rule out the possibility of it being glaucoma,” the doctor warns.
5. Frequent Need to Change Your Glasses Prescription
In her fifth and final warning, she says warns that whilst “it’s normal for prescriptions to change over time” if it’s changing frequently and “significant adjustments” are needed, it “might indicate an underlying condition like glaucoma.”
She warns: “Glaucoma doesn’t discriminate and can affect anyone. Those over 40, with a family history of the condition, or who are of African, Caribbean, or Asian descent are at higher risk. Regular eye tests are crucial – not only can they detect glaucoma early, but they can also pick up other serious health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure.”
“The key to protecting your vision is catching glaucoma early,” Dr Ameen adds. “Many people dismiss the signs as minor inconveniences, but they can be your eyes’ way of crying out for help.”
“Don’t wait for symptoms to escalate. Book an eye test today and encourage your loved ones to do the same if they are experiencing similar vision problems. With modern treatments and early intervention, glaucoma doesn’t have to lead to vision loss.”