5 early signs of glaucoma every adult in Uyo should know

Glaucoma is often called the silent thief of sight. By the time most people notice something is wrong, a meaningful amount of vision has already been lost, and that loss cannot be reversed. The good news is that with regular checks, glaucoma can be picked up early and managed for life.

At Canon Eye Clinic we see patients across Uyo and the wider Akwa Ibom community who only book a visit once their sight has started to blur. We would like to change that. Here are five early signs that should prompt a comprehensive eye exam.

1. Gradual loss of peripheral vision

Open-angle glaucoma usually starts at the edges of your vision. You might begin to bump into door frames, miss steps, or feel like you are looking through a tunnel. Most people adjust without noticing until central vision is also affected.

2. Halos around lights at night

Seeing rainbow rings around headlights or bulbs, especially in the evening, can point to raised pressure inside the eye. It can also be a symptom of cataracts, which is another reason to get checked.

3. Frequent unexplained headaches

Dull, persistent headaches behind the eyes that do not respond well to common pain relief can be linked to elevated intraocular pressure. Many patients dismiss this as stress when it is actually a signal from the eye.

4. Eye pain or redness that keeps returning

Sudden severe pain, nausea and redness can indicate acute angle-closure glaucoma, which is a true emergency. If this happens, please come in or call us right away.

5. A close family member has glaucoma

Glaucoma runs in families. If a parent or sibling has been diagnosed, your risk is significantly higher and you should start screening from age 35.

What a glaucoma check involves

A full check at Canon takes less than an hour. We measure the pressure inside your eye, examine the optic nerve, and where needed run a visual field test or an OCT scan to look at the nerve fibres in detail.

If you are over 40, have a family history, or live with diabetes, please book a comprehensive exam. Early detection is everything.