GLAUCOMA: January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Supported by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the National Eye Institute, this campaign highlights the dangers of glaucoma, for which there is currently no cure.

According to sightsavers.org, nearly 4.5 million people around the world are blind because of Glaucoma — making it the third highest cause of blindness worldwide. The best way to detect and treat glaucoma is through regular eye checkups.

Here are five early warning signs of Glaucoma, that should not be ignored:

— Halos around lights: Halos are bright circles that surround a light source, almost like headlights. Seeing halos around lights means that individuals could be developing a serious eye disorder, it could be glaucoma or cataracts.

— Loss of vision in one eye: If individuals notice a loss of vision or develop a blind spot in their field of vision, it’s time to get tested for glaucoma. However, a temporary loss of vision is a symptom of a more serious underlying issue such as a stroke and doesn’t always indicate glaucoma.

— Cloudy looking eyes: The cornea of the eye has a sheet of cells on the inside which pump watery fluid out of the cornea, keeping it clear. If the pressure rises a little too high, the fluid will be pushed into the cornea, making it cloudy and water logged. This is what leads to cloudy looking eyes. Cloudy eyes are easily detectable in a mirror and should be immediately checked on by a doctor.

— Sensitivity to light: When the cornea of the eye is not completely clear it will cause light to bounce off the cornea irregularly, causing glare. While this doesn’t harm a person’s vision in the short term, it is an early sign of glaucoma.

— Severe and sudden eye pain: The most obvious sign of an acute attack of glaucoma is severe and sudden eye pain. Such an attack will often cause redness of the eye and nausea, with or without vomiting.