An ophthalmologist from the National Taiwan University Branch in Hsinchu reminds: Glaucoma is asymptomatic in its early stages, and high-risk groups should undergo regular check-ups.

2026/09/14 10:39

Ke Tingjie, a physician at the Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Branch, Hsinchu, reminds that glaucoma often has no obvious symptoms in the early stages. Even if the intraocular pressure is normal, the optic nerve may be damaged, and you should receive regular eye examinations. (Provided by Hsinchu National Taiwan University Branch)

[Reporter Huang Meizhu/Report from Hsinchu] Ke Tingjie, a physician at the Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Branch, Hsinchu, recently treated two glaucoma patients in their 40s. One of them was a patient with high myopia. The patient had high intraocular pressure for three consecutive years but did not follow up because his eyesight was good and his life was not affected. Recently, he discovered that he had severe glaucoma when he developed severe visual field loss. The other person was a patient with normal pressure glaucoma. Because he had no obvious discomfort, he mistakenly believed that the intraocular pressure was normal and his condition was stable. He did not receive treatment regularly and eventually became a severe glaucoma patient.

Ke Tingjie said that glaucoma is a chronic optic nerve degenerative disease that often has no obvious symptoms in the early stages. Many people may have optic nerve damage or visual field defects even if they have normal vision. Because the disease progresses insidiously, patients often only notice abnormalities after their visual field is significantly damaged. It is clinically estimated that about 50% to 80% of patients are not aware that they have the disease in the early stages, and are often discovered during a health checkup or seeking medical treatment for other eye diseases.

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According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, by the end of 2024, there will be more than 525,000 glaucoma patients in Taiwan, of which 23.3% are patients under the age of 50. About 1 in 4 patients is under the age of 50. Therefore, those with high myopia exceeding 600 degrees, a family history of glaucoma, sleep apnea, or long-term use of steroid drugs are all at high risk for glaucoma.

He said that the occurrence of glaucoma is related to intraocular pressure and individual optic nerve tolerance. The aqueous humor in the eyeball is responsible for maintaining the stability of intraocular pressure and providing nutrition to the cornea and lens. When the drainage of aqueous humor is blocked, it may cause the intraocular pressure to rise and compress the optic nerve.

Even if the intraocular pressure is maintained within the normal range in some patients, the optic nerve may continue to be damaged, forming so-called normal pressure glaucoma. Therefore, the diagnosis of glaucoma requires comprehensive judgment through optic nerve examination, fundus evaluation, and visual field examination in addition to the reference intraocular pressure value. Early detection and continuous medication or treatment with laser or surgery can effectively delay the progression of the disease.