Early symptoms of glaucoma
Quick answer
One of the most important facts about glaucoma is that, in its most common form (open-angle glaucoma), it produces almost no symptoms in its early stages.
One of the most important facts about glaucoma is that, in its most common form (open-angle glaucoma), it produces almost no symptoms in its early stages. Vision loss first occurs in the periphery of the visual field, an area the brain easily compensates for, so many patients notice nothing until the damage is already significant.
That's why it's known as "the silent thief of sight." Some patients do report subtle changes, such as difficulty seeing at night, bumping into objects to the side, or needing more light to read, but these symptoms usually appear once the disease is already in a moderate or advanced stage.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is the exception: it presents with intense eye pain, redness, blurred vision, nausea, and halos around lights, and requires urgent medical attention.