Do I Have Glaucoma? What You Need to Know.

No — but it can be controlled. The vision loss glaucoma causes is permanent, which is why early detection and consistent treatment are critical. With the right management, most patients retain functional vision for life.

Glaucoma is progressive. Without treatment, intraocular pressure continues to damage the optic nerve, leading to permanent peripheral vision loss and eventually blindness. Treatment doesn't restore lost vision — it stops further loss.

Most patients have none. Glaucoma is called the silent thief of sight because it causes no pain and no noticeable vision changes until significant damage has already occurred. The first sign for most patients is a finding on their eye exam — not a symptom.

Diagnosis requires a comprehensive eye exam including eye pressure measurement, optic nerve evaluation, OCT imaging of the nerve fiber layer, corneal thickness measurement, and visual field testing. No single test is sufficient — Dr. Tran evaluates all findings together.

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form — it develops slowly and silently as drainage in the eye becomes less efficient over time. Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when the drainage angle is physically blocked, causing a sudden spike in pressure. Angle-closure can be an emergency requiring immediate treatment.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is an in-office procedure that uses targeted laser energy to improve fluid drainage from the eye, lowering intraocular pressure. It takes less than 5 minutes, requires no incisions, and has no recovery downtime. It's often recommended when eye drops aren't achieving adequate pressure control.

Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) refers to a group of surgical procedures designed to lower eye pressure with less risk and faster recovery than traditional glaucoma surgery. Dr. Tran performs MIGS for patients who need more pressure reduction than drops or laser alone can provide.

Many glaucoma patients start with eye drops and remain on them long-term. However, SLT laser can reduce or eliminate the need for drops in some patients, and MIGS surgery can significantly lower pressure with less reliance on medication. Dr. Tran will discuss the right approach based on your specific pressure targets and disease stage.

Yes — family history is one of the strongest risk factors for glaucoma. If a first-degree relative has glaucoma, your risk is significantly higher than average. This makes regular screening especially important, even if you have no symptoms.

Untreated or poorly controlled glaucoma can lead to blindness. It is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. However, with early detection and consistent treatment, the vast majority of patients retain functional vision for life.

Most patients are seen every 3–6 months depending on disease severity and how well pressure is controlled. Glaucoma requires lifelong follow-up — visual field tests and OCT imaging track progression over time. Staying consistent with monitoring is the single most important thing a glaucoma patient can do.

Usually yes, though it often affects one eye more than the other. It's common for glaucoma to be more advanced in one eye at diagnosis. Both eyes are evaluated and treated independently based on their individual pressure levels and nerve status.