As a glaucoma specialist at Wagner Kapoor Institute, I see patients every day who are dealing with the consequences of this silent disease. The hardest part? Much of the damage was already done before they noticed anything was wrong.
Glaucoma is a thief. And once it’s taken your vision, we can’t get it back.
That’s why I want to take a moment this Glaucoma Awareness Month to educate you about this sight-stealing disease and encourage everyone, especially those at risk, to make their eye health a priority in 2026.
Glaucoma doesn’t just affect seniors or those with eye problems. It can begin without symptoms. It can occur with normal eye pressure. And it’s one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.
But here’s the good news: it’s manageable, if we catch it early.
Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve, usually due to high pressure inside the eye. That pressure builds slowly and painlessly over time, so you won’t feel it happening.
But here’s the key: once vision is lost, it’s permanent. I often compare it to squeezing toothpaste out of the tube, once it’s out, there’s no putting it back in.
Yes, there are several different types of glaucoma, each with distinct causes, symptoms, and treatment approaches. While they all involve damage to the optic nerve, usually due to increased intraocular pressure (IOP), the underlying mechanisms and urgency can vary significantly.
The most common form is open-angle glaucoma, which develops slowly over years. Another form, angle-closure glaucoma, can appear suddenly and cause symptoms like eye pain, nausea, and blurred vision, requiring emergency care.
At Wagner Kapoor Institute, we treat all types of glaucoma with advanced, individualized care.
Angle-closure glaucoma, is especially dangerous, but also presents a rare opportunity:
It’s one of the only types of glaucoma we can sometimes cure.
This happens when the angle where your iris meets the drainage system in the eye becomes blocked. Pressure builds up fast and can cause sudden vision loss, pain, or nausea. But if we catch it early, we can often open the angle permanently with laser or surgical treatment, before damage sets in.
That’s why we screen for narrow angles during your eye exam, even when you’re not having symptoms.
When I explain glaucoma to patients, I often use this visual:
“Imagine your optic nerve like a donut. The healthy part is the meat of the donut, the part that transmits visual information. The center hole is a normal feature.
As glaucoma damages the nerve, the ‘meat’ disappears. That donut hole? It gets bigger and bigger, until eventually, all that’s left is the hole. That’s advanced glaucoma.”
And the worst part is, most people don’t feel or see any change until the damage is already severe.
Glaucoma can affect anyone, but you’re at higher risk if you:
If you fall into any of these categories, I recommend an annual glaucoma screening, even if you have no symptoms.
At Wagner Kapoor Institute, we use state-of-the-art testing to detect glaucoma before vision loss begins:
All of these are painless and quick, and they can help preserve your vision for decades to come.
Glaucoma treatment is personalized based on the type and stage of the disease. Our primary goal is to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) to prevent further optic nerve damage.
Your options may include:
At Wagner Kapoor Institute, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I work closely with each patient to develop a customized plan that fits their lifestyle, visual goals, and long-term health.
The most important thing I tell my patients is this: glaucoma damage is permanent, but it’s preventable.
Once you start to lose vision from glaucoma, we can’t get it back, but we can stop it from getting worse. That’s why early diagnosis and consistent follow-up are so critical.
As we work to diagnose and treat glaucoma early, I’m also proud that Wagner Kapoor Institute is part of a nationwide effort to make eye care more equitable.
We are honored to participate in the Advancing Inclusive Research (AIR) Site Alliance, a partnership with Genentech that helps ensure Black, Hispanic, and historically underrepresented groups are included in clinical trials, especially for diseases like glaucoma that affect them more often, but have historically left them out of research.
You can read more about this initiative here: AIR Study on PubMed
If you or a loved one have never had a glaucoma screening, or it’s been over a year since your last exam, please don’t wait.
Vision loss from glaucoma is permanent. But early detection saves sight.
