What is the primary symptom of glaucoma?

The primary symptom of glaucoma is indeed the loss of peripheral vision. This occurs because glaucoma typically affects the optic nerve due to increased intraocular pressure, leading to a gradual narrowing of the visual field. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience tunnel vision, where their ability to see objects outside their central focus diminishes. In many cases, the loss of peripheral vision can happen so gradually that the individual may not notice it until significant damage has occurred. This makes early detection and treatment critical to preserving overall vision.

While other symptoms like loss of central vision, increased sensitivity to light, and blurred vision can occur in various eye conditions, they are not characteristic of the early stages of glaucoma. Central vision loss is more commonly associated with conditions like macular degeneration. Increased sensitivity to light and blurred vision can arise from other refractive errors or eye diseases but are not primary indicators of glaucoma. Thus, the focus on peripheral vision loss is crucial for understanding and recognizing glaucoma's impact on vision.