10 Things to Do to Prevent Vision Loss From Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye condition that a lot of people have but are unaware of. The reason is that the disease creeps in silently, without causing any noticeable symptoms. 

The disorder gradually damages the optic nerve of the eye, the component that acts as a link between the eye and the brain. It is the optic nerve that transmits inputs from the eye to the brain, enabling you to see.

The most common glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma. It occurs when eye fluid lacks proper drainage. This makes intra-ocular pressure surge, damaging the optic nerve. As this type of glaucoma initially takes away side vision, most people do not observe changes in their vision. Over time, it damages central vision too, thereby interfering with patients’ vision. 

How to Prevent Glaucoma

Glaucoma is known as - the silent thief of sight. This means vision once lost to glaucoma does not return. What’s more, eye specialists do not presently know how to stop glaucoma from developing. However, there are many ways to prevent glaucoma from causing serious loss of vision and blindness.

1. Catch it Early

It is critical to detect this silent thief of sight before it damages your vision. If you fall in the high risk category for glaucoma, you must regularly visit your eyecare provider for comprehensive eye examinations. These tests can help detect the condition in the beginning itself. Following this, your eye doctor can treat it. Additionally, you should be particular about taking your prescribed medicines for glaucoma precisely as your doctor instructs.

2. Feed Your Eyes

Include plenty of leafy greens and coloured fruits, vegetables, and berries in your daily diet. The essential vitamins and minerals in these protective food items help protect not just your body but also your eyes from diseases. Eye healthy foods may be more effective at preventing glaucoma than vitamin supplements. 

3. Wear Protective Eyewear

Eye trauma can result in glaucoma. Make sure you use protective eyewear whenever you participate in sports, working at home, and also at work. Wear protective goggles while performing manual work in your yard. Do not rub or touch your eyes with dirty hands, especially when working outside, in a lab, or workshop.

4. Shield Your Eyes from Sunlight

Some studies indicate that a specific type of glaucoma may be caused by the UV rays of the sun. When going outdoors, wear UV protection sunglasses. You can also wear a wide-brimmed hat for additional protection against sunrays. 

5. Taking any Blood Pressure Medication? Tell Your Ophthalmologist

If your blood pressure dips too much during sleep, glaucoma damage can be more. If you take your BP medicine before going to bed at night or if you experience signs of low BP, do let your eye specialist know about it. They can talk to your primary healthcare provider. However, it is not advisable to change your BP medication on your own, without consulting your doctor(s).

6. Mindful Exercising

Low-intensity exercises, such as brisk walking, can help bring down eye pressure and enhance your overall well-being. Contrarily, high-intensity exercises raise your heart rate, and along with it, your eye pressure. If you want to opt for heavy weight lifting, do it under the guidance and watchful eye of a qualified trainer. They will tell you how to breathe properly while lifting heavy weights.

7. Head Above Heart

If you have glaucoma or are in the high-risk category for it, avoid placing your head at a level below your heart for long durations. Head-down positions can significantly increase your eye pressure, which is why glaucoma patients should practise restraint with some yoga poses. Also, avoid inversion tables and gravity boots for backache. Discuss this aspect with your eye doctor so that you do not end up risking your vision.

8. Maintain the Right Sleeping Posture

Glaucoma patients should not sleep with their eyes pressing against your arm or the pillow. Those with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are vulnerable to glaucoma. So, if you snore during your sleep, you should get yourself tested for OSA.

9. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Some research suggests that gum disease may be associated with optic nerve damage, resulting in glaucoma. Apart from brushing and flossing your teeth daily, schedule regular visits to your dentist.  

10. Taking any Steroid Medication? Inform Your Eye Doctor 

If you’ve been taking steroids for a long time or the doses are high, it could elevate the pressure in your eye, especially if you already have glaucoma. This is particularly true of oral steroids or those that you use around your eyes. That makes it vital to let your eye doctor know if you are taking any steroid medicine.

FAQs

1. What causes Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve and can eventually cause blindness. The main reason is increased eye pressure. The underlying causes include fluid build-up in the eye, eye injury, certain medicines, or inherited conditions.

2. How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Trusted eye specialists at Sohana Eye Hospital diagnose glaucoma through a comprehensive eye examination, using the most advanced diagnostic tools. The checkup includes a thorough assessment of the health of the optic nerve and a measurement of eye pressure (IOP). Our expert eye doctors may also utilise other diagnostic tools like optical coherence tomography (OCT) or visual field testing.

3. Who is at risk for glaucoma?

Anyone can develop glaucoma, but certain individuals are at a higher risk than others. This includes senior citizens aged above 60, coming from African American, Latino, Asian, or Native American ethnicity, those with a family history of the condition, diabetics and those with high blood pressure.

4. Does glaucoma cause blindness?

Glaucoma can lead to loss of vision or even blindness by damaging the optic nerve. Most people do not notice any symptoms until the condition reaches an advanced stage.

The only way you can safeguard your vision from glaucoma is by getting regular eye checkups. This will help ensure early diagnosis and timely treatment.

5. Can glaucoma be cured?

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but its progression can be managed with timely diagnosis and treatment. This is what makes annual eye exams necessary. Get your comprehensive eye examinations with cutting-edge diagnostics at Sohana Eye Hospital, a leading eye hospital of Chandigarh.

Sohana Eye Hospital offers all types of advanced glaucoma treatment options - 

• Prescription eye drops

• Oral medications

• Laser treatment - Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), YAG Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (PI), and Cyclophotocoagulation

• Glaucoma surgery - Trabeculectomy, Glaucoma Drainage Devices (GDDs), and Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS).