Understanding Glaucoma: The Silent Thief of Sight

Glaucoma is one of the most common — and most serious — eye diseases we diagnose in our practice serving Sebring, Avon Park, Lake Placid, and Wauchula. Often called the "silent thief of sight," glaucoma can gradually damage the optic nerve without obvious symptoms until permanent vision loss occurs.

While many patients believe that glaucoma is caused by abnormally high eye pressure, most glaucoma cases have normal eye pressure at the time of diagnosis.  Glaucoma, put simply, is damage to the optic nerve leading to visual field loss over time. If a patient is having this at a normal pressure of 18, they have glaucoma, even though the pressure is normal.  Their nerve simply cannot handle a pressure of 18, so they would need to have a lower target pressure set to control the progression of the disease.  Sometimes the pressure in the eye is indeed too high (27 or more), and in those cases, we would treat the pressure to reduce it to a normal level regardless of damage to the nerve, as it would lead to vision loss if left untreated.

There are several forms of glaucoma, but the most common is primary open-angle glaucoma. It progresses slowly and painlessly. Most patients don’t notice any changes in vision until the disease is advanced, which is why it’s essential to monitor eye pressure and optic nerve health regularly.

During your comprehensive eye exam, we check for glaucoma using several techniques: measuring IOP, evaluating the optic nerve through dilation, performing visual field tests to look for peripheral vision loss, and using imaging tools to monitor nerve fiber thickness.

If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, don’t worry — it can be managed. Treatments may include prescription eye drops to lower eye pressure, oral medications, laser therapy, or surgical procedures in more advanced cases. The goal is to prevent further damage, as vision loss from glaucoma is unfortunately irreversible.

In our office, we personalize glaucoma care using the latest diagnostic technology and coordinate closely with local ophthalmologists when surgical intervention is needed. Early detection is your best defense, so don’t skip those routine exams — especially if you have risk factors such as being over 60, family history, diabetes, or high blood pressure.

If you’re in the Sebring, Wauchula, or Avon Park area and haven’t had your eyes checked recently, let’s make sure glaucoma isn’t silently stealing your vision.