Don’t Let the Silent Thief Steal Your Sight: January Is Glaucoma Awareness Month
January marks Glaucoma Awareness Month, a crucial time to focus on eye health.
Why the urgency? Glaucoma, often called the silent thief of sight, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States, yet as many as half of the people who have it don’t know they are affected.
What Is Glaucoma, and Why Does It Matter?
Glaucoma is not just one disease. It is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the cable that sends visual information from your eye to your brain. Most types of glaucoma are linked to intraocular pressure, although some people develop glaucoma even with normal eye pressure.
A 2024 meta-analysis estimated that about 4.22 million adults in the United States have glaucoma, and more than 1.4 million already have vision loss from the disease. Globally, glaucoma affects an estimated 80 million people, a number expected to rise as populations age.
There’s no cure, but early detection and treatment can slow or prevent further vision loss. That’s why awareness in January, and year-round, matters.
Why Glaucoma Is Called the Silent Thief of Sight
For the most common form, primary open-angle glaucoma, there are usually no early warning signs. Vision changes start slowly, usually with side (peripheral) vision. People often compensate without realizing it, which is why glaucoma can progress for years before anyone notices and why regular eye exams are crucial.
By the time central vision is affected, optic nerve damage is permanent. Treatment can help preserve remaining sight, but it cannot restore what is already lost.
That’s the harsh reality: You can feel fine, drive, read, and work, and still have glaucoma quietly damaging your eyes.
Early Signs and Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Although glaucoma often develops without apparent symptoms, there are warning signs that deserve urgent attention.
Subtle Changes That May Suggest Glaucoma
These can show up gradually, especially with open-angle glaucoma:
- Slowly worsening peripheral (side) vision
- Trouble seeing in dim light
- Mildly blurred or patchy vision in one or both eyes
- Frequent prescription changes that don’t fully fix your vision
Because these changes are so gradual, many people miss or dismiss them. Regular eye exams are the only reliable way to catch glaucoma early.
Sudden Symptoms That Are an Emergency
A less common but serious type, acute angle-closure glaucoma, can come on suddenly. If you notice these symptoms, seek emergency care right away:
- Severe eye pain
- Bad headache
- Blurred vision or sudden vision loss
- Halos or rainbow-colored rings around lights
- Red eye
- Nausea and vomiting, along with eye pain
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a true medical emergency. Quick treatment can mean the difference between saving and losing vision.
Who Is at a Higher Risk for Glaucoma?
Anyone can develop glaucoma. Still, some people have a significantly higher risk. Knowing where you stand helps you decide how often to get checked.
Major Glaucoma Risk Factors
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Eye Institute, and the Glaucoma Research Foundation, the following factors raise your risk:
- Age 60 or older (risk increases with age)
- Family history of glaucoma, especially in a parent or sibling
- Elevated eye pressure (ocular hypertension)
- Diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease
- Thin corneas or certain eye structural features
- A history of eye injury, long-term steroid use, or certain eye conditions
- Race and ethnicity:
- Black or African American adults are more likely to develop glaucoma, and they often develop it at a younger age
- Hispanic and Latino adults, particularly those over age 60, have an elevated risk
- People of Asian descent are at higher risk for angle-closure glaucoma and some normal-tension forms
Studies also show that glaucoma is more likely to cause blindness in Black and Latinx populations due to biological and systemic factors, including disparities in access to eye care.
If you fall into any of these groups, Glaucoma Awareness Month is an ideal time to talk with an eye doctor.
Prevention and Protection: Your Action Plan
Currently, doctors cannot prevent glaucoma, but they can control it if they diagnose it early. Treatment, which often involves prescription eye drops or laser surgery, can slow or prevent further vision loss.
Take control of your eye health by following these essential steps:
- Get a Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exam: A comprehensive eye exam remains the most effective way to protect your vision because it lets your doctor measure eye pressure and examine the optic nerve for early signs of damage.
- Know Your Family History: Share information about family members who have had glaucoma with your eye care professional.
- Manage Underlying Health: Control chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and maintain a healthy weight. These actions help prevent vision loss from glaucoma and other chronic conditions.
- Live a Healthy Lifestyle: Stay physically active and avoid smoking to support your overall health, including your vision.
Glaucoma is a serious, lifelong condition, but early detection makes a significant difference in preserving your vision. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear; schedule a comprehensive eye exam today.
Who We Are
Glaucoma Research Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for glaucoma. Founded in 1978 in San Francisco, we fund glaucoma research worldwide and empower a global community affected by the second leading cause of blindness.
Last reviewed, revised, and updated December 23, 2025.