Skip to main content
Vrouwen herstellen buiten de oogkliniek in Nepal
Protect vision from glaucoma

With a single donation, you can fund an eye operation that visibly changes someone’s life.

Donate now

What is glaucoma?

Situation: gradual loss of peripheral vision

Glaucoma is a chronic eye condition in which the optic nerve becomes damaged, usually due to increased pressure inside the eye. This pressure occurs when the fluid in the eye (aqueous humor) is not drained properly or is produced too quickly.

The damage develops slowly and without pain. Central vision often remains clear for a long time, but peripheral vision gradually decreases. As a result, people often only notice the condition once permanent damage has already occurred.

Worldwide, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness.

The problem: irreversible damage and late diagnosis

Unlike cataract, damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. What is lost cannot be restored. That is why early detection and ongoing treatment are essential.

However, in many low- and middle-income countries, glaucoma is often diagnosed too late. In high-income countries, around 50% of cases remain undiagnosed; in low- and middle-income countries, this can rise to as much as 90%.

People living in remote and underserved areas are particularly at risk. They often have limited access to eye specialists, modern equipment, or regular check-ups. In addition, many people assume that declining vision is a normal part of ageing, without realizing it may be a treatable condition.

Without treatment, glaucoma can lead to complete blindness.

Types of glaucoma

  • Primary glaucoma: The cause is unknown. The condition occurs on its own and can be congenital.

  • Secondary glaucoma: This type develops as a result of another eye condition, an eye injury, or improper use of eye drops.

  • Acute glaucoma: A sudden increase in eye pressure causes severe symptoms such as eye pain, blurred vision, headache, and nausea.

  • Juvenile glaucoma: A collective term for rare forms of glaucoma in children, which can occur in both infants and older children.

Symptoms and risks

Glaucoma usually develops gradually. Common signs include:

  • Dark spots or a shadow at the edges of vision
  • Blurred vision
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Problems seeing in low light

In cases of acute glaucoma, symptoms appear suddenly, such as severe eye pain, headache, nausea, and a rapid loss of vision. This is a medical emergency.

Risk factors include:

  • Age (40–45 and older)

  • Family history

  • Diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  • Severe myopia (nearsightedness)

  • Eye injuries or inflammation

Regular eye examinations, including eye pressure measurement and optic nerve assessment (such as an OCT scan), are essential for early detection of glaucoma.

Vrouw krijgt oogonderzoek
Vrouw na staaroperatie in Nepal met oogbescherming op

The solution: early detection and ongoing treatment

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but its progression can be slowed. Treatment may include:

  • Daily eye drops
  • Laser therapy
  • Surgery to lower eye pressure

All treatments require regular monitoring by an eye specialist.

This is exactly where the challenge lies in the countries where Eye Care Foundation works. Glaucoma requires long-term care and specialized follow-up. That is why we work together with governments, the World Health Organization (WHO), and partners to invest in:

  • Training ophthalmologists and optometrists

  • Training ophthalmologists and optometrists
  • Increasing awareness and knowledge of eye diseases
  • Referring patients to specialized clinics

As eye care systems in these countries grow stronger, more patients with complex conditions such as glaucoma can receive the care they need.

Donate now

How does glaucoma affect daily life?

In most cases, central vision remains clear, which means people with glaucoma can often still read. However, they no longer have a complete field of vision. The outer edges become less visible, and “blind” spots can develop without people noticing. This can make everyday activities, such as driving (both during the day and at night), dangerous.

Glaucoma is often difficult to detect because it develops very slowly and gradually. As a result, many patients do not visit an eye specialist in time.

Normal vision vs. vision with glaucoma

The image in the top left shows normal vision. The images that follow illustrate how vision becomes increasingly restricted, as with glaucoma.

Help prevent blindness from glaucoma

Blindness caused by glaucoma is irreversible but in many cases, it can be prevented if the condition is detected and treated in time.

With your donation, we invest in sustainable eye care, training, and infrastructure. This helps ensure that vulnerable people in remote areas gain access to early diagnosis and specialized treatment.

Help us accelerate this process. Donate today and protect someone’s vision for the future.

Donate now

When should you see an eye specialist?

If you experience one or more of the symptoms listed above, it is important to have your eyes examined as soon as possible. Unlike cataract, damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed, so early action is essential.

During an examination, your eye pressure will be measured. In glaucoma, eye pressure can be high, low, or even normal. The optic nerve is examined using a special scan called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). This scan is particularly useful for detecting glaucoma at an early stage. A visual field test can also help determine whether glaucoma is present, often using lights or objects on a screen.

How often should you have your eyes checked?

Eye examinations are important for both children and adults. Different aspects of the eye can be assessed, including:

  • Vision tests
  • Examination of the outside of the eye
  • Examination of the inside of the eye

A (free) eye test at an optician is often not comprehensive enough to detect all potential risks in time, but it is a good first step. They can also advise whether you should see an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Children should have their eyes examined every year. As they grow and develop quickly, vision problems can arise suddenly.

To maintain healthy vision, experts recommend a comprehensive eye exam every two years for adults aged 18 to 60. For adults aged 60 and over, annual check-ups are advised.

Adults at higher risk of eye conditions or those who wear contact lenses should have regular eye examinations.

How is glaucoma treated?

Eye drops
In the early stages, glaucoma can often be treated with daily eye drops prescribed by an eye specialist. These help either reduce the production of fluid in the eye or improve its drainage. Regular check-ups are necessary.

Laser treatment
Laser therapy can improve the drainage of fluid from the eye, reducing eye pressure. This outpatient procedure takes only a few minutes. The effect may take several weeks and must be evaluated by an eye specialist. There are different types of laser treatments available.

Surgery

  • Glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy): A small opening is created to allow fluid to drain more effectively. An implant may also be used to reduce eye pressure.
  • Peripheral iridectomy: A small hole is made in the iris to improve fluid flow.
  • Cataract surgery: Replacing the lens can also lower eye pressure, particularly in people who are farsighted.

All treatments require follow-up visits to ensure they are effective.

Prevalence of glaucoma

Around 1% of people in the Netherlands aged 40–50 have glaucoma. Early detection is essential to preserve vision, which is why regular eye exams are recommended from the age of 40. From age 50, prevalence increases to between 2.8% and 6%, depending on age and other health conditions.

Glaucoma is more common in people of African and Asian descent and is the third leading cause of (avoidable) blindness worldwide.

Source: oogartsen.nl

Glaucoma in low- and middle-income countries

In high-income countries, around 50% of glaucoma cases are diagnosed. In developing countries, this can be as high as 90% undiagnosed.

In recent years, studies and clinical research by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) have helped increase awareness among patients. Greater knowledge about eye health and conditions such as cataract and glaucoma encourages more people to seek medical care.

In many parts of Asia and Africa, people often accept declining vision as a natural part of ageing and may not realize that treatment is possible. This highlights the importance of education and awareness.

Source: iapb.org

How does Eye Care Foundation help?

Eye Care Foundation is committed to preventing and treating avoidable blindness and visual impairment in low- and middle-income countries. In our approach, we focus on achieving the greatest possible impact with limited resources by targeting the most common eye conditions — those that can be treated with a single intervention.

We provide eye screenings on location, often in remote areas. Our work mainly focuses on eye tests, providing glasses, and performing cataract surgeries. With these relatively simple solutions, we are already able to help a large number of people.

The success of these efforts also helps us demonstrate to local governments the economic value of investing in eye care. When more people are able to work, it contributes directly to a country’s Gross National Product (GNP). This is a strong reason to integrate eye care into the broader healthcare system.

At present, we are not yet able to treat patients with glaucoma within our projects. Glaucoma often requires long-term, complex treatment and multiple follow-up visits. Because we currently work with temporary outreach camps, we cannot yet provide the continuous care that glaucoma patients need.

Together with governments, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other non-profit organizations, we are working to structurally strengthen eye care systems by training doctors and optometrists and establishing sustainable treatment centers.

As knowledge increases and more clinics and hospitals are developed, the need for specialists with expertise in conditions such as glaucoma also grows.

For now, glaucoma patients are referred to specialized eye clinics in larger cities for treatment. This is often the result of years of investment and development in a country’s eye care system.

Will you help us accelerate this process?

Na een nepal

Help prevent blindness from glaucoma

Blindness caused by glaucoma is irreversible but in many cases, it can be prevented if the condition is detected and treated in time.

With your donation, we invest in sustainable eye care, training, and infrastructure. This ensures that vulnerable people in remote areas gain access to early diagnosis and specialized treatment.

Donate now

Help us accelerate this process. Donate today and protect someone’s vision for the future.

Stay up-to-date and sign up for the newsletter

This field is hidden when viewing the form