When you receive a glaucoma diagnosis, it’s natural to wonder, “Will I go blind?” The truth is that many factors impact the answer to this question. If left untreated, glaucoma will most likely lead to blindness—though it progresses slowly and over the course of years.

When treated, there is still uncertainty, due to a number of variables, which include:

• What kind of glaucoma you have
• What other risk factors and conditions you have that may complicate glaucoma
• How much damage was already done by the time treatment began
• How compliant, proactive, and engaged you are in your treatment, supportive eye care, and utilization of low-vision aids, financial assistance, and other available resources

The BrightFocus Foundation sheds light on going blind from glaucoma and how to be proactive about your diagnosis and treatment.*

What kind of glaucoma do you have?

The most common form of glaucoma among adults in the U.S. is open-angle glaucoma (OAG). OAG is a slow-progressing neurodegenerative disease that damages your optic nerve and destroys the retinal ganglion cells that connect your eye to your brain and control your vision. Your peripheral (side) vision is generally affected first. It can take years before your central vision is affected. 

Another type, called angle-closure glaucoma (ACG), can cause a sudden attack that may result in total blindness within a matter of days if not treated as a medical emergency. A third type, normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), doesn’t cause sudden acute attacks, but can damage your retinal cells faster than open-angle glaucoma, and affect your central vision sooner. 

What risk factors and other conditions apply to you?

Having any of the following risk factors can influence whether or not you develop glaucoma, when you develop it, and how fast it progresses.

• Black, Hispanic, or Asian racial groups
• age 60 or older (lowers to age 40 or older for black racial group)
• family history of glaucoma
• diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or other medical conditions
• nearsightedness
• history of eye trauma or steroid use

How much damage occured prior to treatment?

Glaucoma typically affects the peripheral (side) vision first, specifically in OAG. These changes may go unnoticed for quite some time because the unaffected eye can compensate for the affected one. 

There are pros and cons to your body’s ability to adapt in this situation. On the one hand, it’s fortunate, because it means that you may not suffer any vision loss in the early and moderate stages of the disease. In fact, it’s possible for your central vision to remain at 20/20. 

The drawback, however, is that since you’re not experiencing vision loss in the early or moderate stages, you may not go to the eye doctor until significant irreparable damage has already been done. The earlier that glaucoma is diagnosed and treated, the greater your chances are of retaining a good portion, or even all, of your vision. 

How engaged are you in your treatment process?

Going for regular eye checkups is your first and best defense against going blind from glaucoma, as it increases your chances of getting an early diagnosis. Once you’ve received a diagnosis, however, it’s critical that you stay dedicated to the treatment process, which includes the following steps.

• Comply with every aspect of your prescribed treatment and supportive eye care.
• Keep your follow-up exam appointments.
• Quickly let your eye doctor know of any vision changes you experience.
• Take advantage of visual rehabilitation, low-vision aids, financial assistance programs, and other available resources that will help you carry out and sustain your necessary treatment and care.

You may not have control over all of the factors that impact the question, “Will I go blind from glaucoma?” but you do have the power to control some of them. Be sure to speak to your ophthalmologist about how you can best influence your own outcome. 

Additional information on blindness and glaucoma can be found on the following websites: Glaucoma Research Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and American Academy of Ophthalmology.

*Ou, Y. (2019, Feb. 19). “How Long Does it Take to Go Blind from Glaucoma?.” BrightFocus Foundation.

Any sources from outside of Prevent Blindness do not imply an endorsement from Prevent Blindness. The contents of the material used are the responsibility of the authoring organization, Responsum Health.