Glaucoma (easy read)
Glaucoma is a problem with your eyes.
![Eye](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Eye%20%282%29.png?itok=rPaCk40w)
Our eyes need to be healthy for us to see well.
![Liquid in your eye](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/liquid%20eye.png?itok=teSTBzSI)
Your eye has clear liquid in it.
This keeps your eye the right shape.
![Glaucoma](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/glaucoma.jpg?itok=g40WldkX)
Glaucoma is a problem with the liquid in your eye.
![Liquid](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Water%202.png?itok=MJsaIIcQ)
The liquid in your eye drains away and is replaced by fresh liquid.
![Too much liquid](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Too%20much%20liquid.png?itok=UKmD4Q1j)
If the liquid cannot drain away properly, there can be too much liquid in your eye.
![Hurt eye](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Eye%20test%204.png?itok=iXZilccm)
Too much liquid causes pressure.
This can damage your eye.
![Eye test](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician%20eye%20test2%20%284%29.png?itok=MXT7JhLo)
Having an eye test every 2 years or more often is important.
![Optician](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician%20looking%20%282%29.png?itok=Glwo_eoS)
The optician will tell you if they need to check for glaucoma.
![Glaucoma](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/glaucoma_0.jpg?itok=Mwgs9dfi)
Chronic glaucoma.
This is the most common type of glaucoma.
![Time](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Timer%20People%201.png?itok=D7ueeFCZ)
It can take a long time to get chronic glaucoma.
![Years](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Years%202022.png?itok=g52E8UQC)
You may not notice any changes to your sight for years.
![Central vision](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/vision.jpg?itok=34N-fS1_)
Central vision is the middle part of what you can see.
![Important](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Important.png?itok=zy01ZV6b)
Central vision is very important.
![Worse eyesight](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Eye%281%29.png?itok=_lkFO-66)
Without help your eyesight will get worse.
![Seeing clearly](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Christine%204.png?itok=bOsWgQic)
You may not see things clearly outside of your central vision.
![Optician](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Opthalmist%20patient1.png?itok=ICgTul7t)
An optician can find out if you have glaucoma before you notice a problem.
![Eye clinic](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Hospital%20sign1.png?itok=rW0sIwv4)
The optician will arrange for you to go to the hospital eye clinic.
![Eye injury](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Lucas%206.png?itok=pY2FiclV)
Secondary glaucoma.
This can happen after people have an eye operation or an eye injury.
![Quickly](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Waiting.png?itok=7YPiX_9n)
Acute glaucoma.
This is when glaucoma happens very quickly.
![Feeling sick](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Feel%20sick.png?itok=gSC0cgzW)
How you notice acute glaucoma:
You feel very ill and are sick
![Headache](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Headache%202.png?itok=Fd8vMq2o)
You have bad headaches.
![Blurred vision](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Blurry.jpg?itok=ajFiwy_D)
- Your eyesight might suddenly become blurred or unclear
![Blind](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Eye%20test%204_0.png?itok=OqPoXyCg)
- You may become blind in one eye or both eyes
![Hospital](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Hospital%202F.png?itok=6xKtey0T)
If these things happen you should go to hospital straight away.
![You](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Indiana%20points%20you.png?itok=5RzTcflB)
You are more likely to get glaucoma if:
![Family](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Family%202.png?itok=9HcwrHBd)
- Someone in your family has glaucoma
![Over 60](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Wave%203.png?itok=4t_cspFh)
- You are over 60 years old
![African Caribbean or African American](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Calvin%201.png?itok=txx3g7Bg)
- You are African Caribbean or African American
![Person from South East Asia](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Supporter%208.png?itok=pKgi17K6)
- You are from South East Asia.
![Diabetes](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Diabetes%20test3%20%281%29.png?itok=Lnkzw1V8)
- You have diabetes
![Glasses](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Glasses%20%282%29.png?itok=sujQNSOj)
- You are very short-sighted
This means you need glasses for seeing things in the distance.
![Support plan](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Support%20plan2.png?itok=R3nsBa_H)
If you are more likely to get glaucoma it should be written in your support plan or health action plan.
![Optician](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician%20eye%20test1%20%281%29.png?itok=qTe7OItb)
Go and see your optician if you or your supporters think you may have glaucoma.
![Free](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Free%20%28Money%29.png?itok=VMLlfxUo)
If you are over 40 and at risk of glaucoma you can get free eye tests.
![Close family](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Household%201.png?itok=vKePyBSp)
This includes having a close family member who has glaucoma.
![Benefits](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Benefits.png?itok=Mn0I2p6O)
Many people on benefits can get free eye tests.
![Information](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Good%20Information.png?itok=5STzbSbZ)
Ask your optician for more information.
![Yearly](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Yearly.png?itok=M0YZW07n)
You can have an eye test every year if:
- You have glaucoma
![Family](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Household%2013.png?itok=T4HT9vEv)
- You are over 40 and have a family member with glaucoma
![Diabetes](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Diabetes%20test3%20%281%29_0.png?itok=Q_zB-brH)
- You have diabetes
![Form](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Form%20white%20%282%29.png?itok=Hu5h7ptk)
We have a form called ‘About me and my eyes’.
![Eye test](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician%20eye%20test3%20%281%29.png?itok=mpLJSJy_)
You can fill it in and take it with you to your appointment.
![Supporter help](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Form%20help1.png?itok=WlZTjruB)
Your supporter can help you fill it in.