What Are the Symptoms?

Most people do not have any. The first sign is often a loss of peripheral, or side, vision. That can go unnoticed until late in the disease. That is why glaucoma is often called the "sneak thief of vision." Detecting glaucoma early is one reason you should have a complete exam with an eye specialist every 1 to 2 years. Occasionally, pressure inside the eye can rise to severe levels. In these cases, you may have sudden eye pain, headache, blurred vision, or the appearance of halos around lights.