What are the main signs and symptoms of glaucoma?

    Written by:
    Antonis Damianou

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Morgan Pfiffner, Graham Walker
    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Open-angle glaucoma typically has no early symptoms, and visual issues like needing more light and blurry vision develop gradually. In contrast, closed-angle glaucoma can be asymptomatic or occur within a short period of time, with symptoms such as intense eye pain, blurry vision, and nausea due to a sudden increase in eye pressure.

    Open-angle glaucoma is usually asymptomatic in the early stages, with visual symptoms developing subtly and gradually over time. The most common visual symptoms reported are needing more light, blurry vision, seeing glare, and difficulty seeing objects in peripheral vision.[1]

    Angle-closure glaucoma can present chronically, often without symptoms. However, it can also present acutely, with a sudden increase in the pressure inside the eye causing symptoms that include blurry vision, reddening of the eye, intense eye pain, severe headache, and nausea and vomiting.[2]