Silent thief of sight

Why glaucoma awareness is still so low, and what you can do about it

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We'll spend a small fortune on hyaluronic acid serums, take 40 selfies to find the perfect angle, and religiously apply under-eye cream that promises to defy gravity.

But ask the average woman when she last had her eye pressure checked, and you'll likely get a blank stare. While we're busy curling lashes and perfecting that winged liner, glaucoma, the thief in designer shades, could be quietly tiptoeing in and stealing our sight. No warning. No fanfare. Just irreversible damage.

No noticeable symptoms

Glaucoma isn't some rare, exotic disorder. It's the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation. And yet, it's still one of the most misunderstood.

"It's called the silent thief of sight for a reason," said Dr Kimberly V. Miller, an ophthalmologist with Brown Health Medical Group in a report. "Most people don't realise they have glaucoma until they've already lost vision." That's because, unlike infections or injuries, glaucoma typically doesn't cause pain or noticeable symptoms in its early stages. You just start losing peripheral vision, slowly, subtly, until it's too late.