GLAUCOMA

This is what the world can look like for people with glaucoma, the second most common cause of irreversible sight loss after AMD. It occurs when pressure builds up inside the eye (risk factors include age, smoking and high blood pressure). This damages the optic nerve that transmits images to the brain. Usually, there are no symptoms until the disease is advanced. With one of the most common types of glaucoma, the first symptom is changes in peripheral vision. ‘With glaucoma, you can lose up to 50 per cent of the nerve fibres in the optic nerve before you notice any sight loss,’ says Dr Siriwardena.

‘That’s why a regular sight test — every two years — after the age of 40 is crucial. It can detect early signs you don’t realise you have.’

This means you can have treatment to halt glaucoma’s progression — typically eye drops to reduce the pressure — but you can’t restore vision already lost.