It’s Glaucoma Awareness Month: Here’s What We’d Like You to Know

By PasadenaEye
January 15, 2019

Glaucoma is a global problem of great concern to health experts and, more locally, to your eye doctor. This eye disease is not only the second leading cause of blindness in the world, but it is also what we call “silent.” There are no visual or physical indications of glaucoma outside of vision loss. However, warning signs for glaucoma can be found in a comprehensive eye exam. The more aware you are of your personal risk for glaucoma, the better equipped you can be to protect your lifelong vision.

Early detection and treatment for glaucoma are vital to vision preservation. The visual field does not go from perfect, or even good, one day to nonexistent the next. Glaucoma typically works much more slowly than that. In one way, this is good because it allows an ophthalmologist to begin treatment at the first sign of vision loss, such as peripheral vision, or side vision loss. More so, though, the progressive nature of glaucoma is sneaky because vision becomes disrupted to subtly and slowly that one may not realize there is a problem until what vision has been lost cannot be restored.

What we’d like our patients to know about glaucoma is that, although this disease can seem scary, there are ways to lessen its power over the quality of life. Some simple Do’s and Don’ts can help:

The first and potentially most important DO is to see the eye doctor. If you don’t know your risk for glaucoma, see your eye doctor to discover if you have any and, if you do, what they are. General risk factors for glaucoma include family history and health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. When a patient has one or more risk factors for glaucoma but no signs of increased ocular pressure, they are what we call glaucoma suspect. When risks exist or a diagnosis has been made, patients are advised to:

  • Support eye health with a good diet. Research demonstrates the positive effects of leafy greens and the antioxidants and nitrates they contain. Some studies have suggested that a good diet alone can decrease glaucoma risks up to 30 percent.
  • Engage in physical exercise frequently. Studies also suggest that an active lifestyle can do a lot for the eyes, particularly glaucoma. Patients who changed their lifestyle to include more moderate to vigorous exercise decreased ocular pressure. Researchers have estimated that just 10 minutes of relatively strenuous exercise decreases glaucoma risks up to 25 percent.

Do you want to know more about glaucoma? We’re happy to help! Call Pasadena Eye Associates at (713) 473-5715.

 

 

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