Closed-angle
Characteristics
Aqueous drainage is blocked, causing a sudden pressure spike with eye pain, headache and blurred vision.
Management
Immediate pressure-lowering treatment and emergency care are essential.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma
The silent intruder that steals sight,
protect the golden time of your optic nerve.
Glaucoma narrows the field of vision as the optic nerve
is damaged by elevated eye pressure or poor blood flow.
Since damaged optic nerves are difficult to recover,
continuous management and maintenance through early detection
is critically important.
Glaucoma symptoms
Symptoms vary by type, but glaucoma shows almost no early warning signs
Progressive optic nerve damage gradually blocks peripheral vision, and in late stages vision narrows as if looking out from inside a narrow tunnel
Early detection through precise optic nerve testing, before central vision is threatened, is essential to preserving sight
Self-screening checklist
Glaucoma's early signs are subtle —
often mistaken for normal aging.
If two or more apply,
a precision screening is recommended.
- Adult aged 40 or over
- Family history of glaucoma
- High myopia with elongated eyes
and fragile optic nerves - Previously diagnosed with
elevated intraocular pressure - See rainbow halos around lights
or feel frequent eye stiffness - Have hypertension, diabetes,
or other vascular conditions - Misstep when going down stairs
or placing your foot - Eye bleeding, foreign-body sensation,
headache or eye pain
Types of glaucoma
Glaucoma takes many forms, not a single disease.
Understanding each type is the start
of the right treatment.
Open-angle
Characteristics
The most common type — the optic nerve is damaged slowly regardless of pressure readings.
Management
With almost no early symptoms, regular checkups are the only means of prevention.
Normal-tension
Characteristics
Most common in Koreans — nerve damage occurs even with pressure in the normal range (10-21mmHg).
Management
Regular optic nerve structure exams and follow-up are essential.
Secondary
Characteristics
Caused as a complication of other conditions such as cataract, uveitis, diabetes or steroid use.
Management
Integrated treatment addressing both the cause and the glaucoma.
Congenital
Characteristics
A rare infant condition from structural defects in aqueous drainage at birth, marked by severe photophobia and tearing.
Management
Prompt surgical treatment recommended immediately on detection.
Glaucoma prevention
With early detection and small daily changes,
glaucoma can be managed effectively.
See the prevention tips that minimise nerve damage
and protect healthy vision.
Regular eye checkups
If you're 40+, have a family history, hypertension or diabetes,
an annual precision checkup is recommended even without symptoms.
Improve pressure-raising habits
Avoid long phone or reading sessions in the dark — they can raise intraocular pressure.
Regular lifestyle
Regular aerobic exercise (walking, jogging) supports healthy blood flow.
Mental calm
Extreme stress can fluctuate pressure — keeping the mind calm matters.
Comfortable sleep
Sleep well and adjust positions that press on the eyes — side-sleeping habits help.
Limit alcohol & smoking
Excess drinking and smoking impair blood flow and can accelerate nerve damage.
Whole-body health
Diabetes and hypertension affect nerve blood flow — ongoing internal care must run in parallel.
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