Glaucoma (easy read)

Glaucoma is a problem with your eyes.​​

This is an easy read document

What is glaucoma

Eye

Our eyes need to be healthy for us to see well.​

Liquid in your eye

Your eye has clear liquid in it.​

This keeps your eye the right shape.​

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a problem with the liquid in your eye.​

Liquid

The liquid in your eye drains away and is replaced by fresh liquid.

Too much liquid

If the liquid cannot drain away properly, there can be too much liquid in your eye.

Hurt eye

Too much liquid causes pressure. ​

This can damage your eye.

Eye test

Having an eye test every 2 years or more often is important.

Optician

The optician will tell you if they need to check for glaucoma.​

Types of glaucoma

Glaucoma

Chronic glaucoma.​​

​This is the most common type of glaucoma.  

Time

It can take a long time to get chronic glaucoma.

Years

You may not notice any changes to your sight for years.​

Central vision

Central vision is the middle part of what you can see. ​

Important

Central vision is very important.

Worse eyesight

Without help your eyesight will get worse.

Seeing clearly

​You may not see things clearly outside of your central vision. ​​

Optician

An optician can find out if you have glaucoma before you notice a problem.​

Eye clinic

The optician will arrange for you to go to the hospital eye clinic.​

Eye injury

Secondary glaucoma.​​

This can happen after people have an eye operation or an eye injury.

Quickly

Acute glaucoma.​​

​This is when glaucoma happens very quickly.

Feeling sick

How you notice acute glaucoma:​

You feel very ill and are sick

Headache

You have bad headaches.​

Blurred vision
  • Your eyesight might suddenly become blurred or unclear
Blind
  • You may become blind in one eye or both eyes
Hospital

If these things happen you should go to hospital straight away.​

You

You are more likely to get glaucoma if:​

Family
  • Someone in your family has glaucoma
Over 60
  • You are over 60 years old​
African Caribbean or African American
  • You are African Caribbean or African American
Person from South East Asia
  • You are from South East Asia.
Diabetes
  • You have diabetes​
Glasses
  • You are very short-sighted​

This means you need glasses for seeing things in the distance. 

Support plan

If you are more likely to get glaucoma it should be written in your support plan or health action plan.

Eye tests

Optician

Go and see your optician if you or your supporters think you may have glaucoma.​

Free

If you are over 40 and at risk of glaucoma you can get free eye tests. 

Close family

This includes having a close family member who has glaucoma. 

Benefits

Many people on benefits can get free eye tests.

Information

Ask your optician for more information.

Yearly

You can have an eye test every year if: ​

  • You have glaucoma
Family
  • You are over 40 and have a family member with glaucoma
Diabetes
  • You have diabetes
Form

We have a form called ‘About me and my eyes’.

Eye test

You can fill it in and take it with you to your appointment.

Supporter help

Your supporter can help you fill it in.