How To Prevent Glaucoma From Worsening: Key Strategies

Glaucoma is a cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide. Although it’s an overwhelming eye disease, there are effective ways to slow its progression and preserve your vision. This article explores practical strategies and treatment options for managing glaucoma, focusing on how to prevent glaucoma from worsening while maintaining eye health.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that hurt the optic nerve, often caused by increased intraocular pressure (IOP). This pressure results from an excess fluid called aqueous humour building up in the eye. Harm to the optic nerve can lead to vision loss over time.

Types Of Glaucoma

Glaucoma can occur in different forms, each with its own causes and ways it affects the eyes. Knowing about the types of glaucoma helps in detecting it early and managing it well.

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG)

Primary open-angle glaucoma is the more common form of glaucoma. It develops slowly, and you might not notice any symptoms at first.

In this type of glaucoma:

• The eye’s drainage angle stays open, but the fluid drains more slowly than usual.
• This slow drainage causes fluid to build up, increasing the pressure inside the eye, what we call intraocular pressure (IOP).
• If unmanaged, the higher pressure can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss.

It’s important to have regular eye exams to catch this type of glaucoma early, as it does not always show obvious symptoms.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma (ACG)

Angle-closure glaucoma is a less common but more serious form of glaucoma. It can happen suddenly and is considered an emergency.

Here’s what happens in angle closure glaucoma:

• The eye’s drainage angle gets blocked, which stops fluid from draining properly.
• This blockage can cause the pressure inside the eye to rise very quickly.
• When this happens, it can cause severe symptoms such as eye pain, blurry vision, headaches, and seeing halos around lights.

Unlike primary open-angle glaucoma, angle closure glaucoma has noticeable symptoms. So, it’s important to seek immediate medical help to prevent damage to the eye.

Understanding these two types of glaucoma helps to know what to look out for and why early detection is so important. Check-ups with your doctor can help manage glaucoma and lower the chances of further damage to your eyes.

Recognising Glaucoma Symptoms

Early detection is crucial because glaucoma symptoms often develop gradually. Common symptoms include:

• Gradual loss of peripheral vision.
• Eye pain or discomfort in acute cases.
• Halos around lights, especially at night.
• Blurred or hazy vision in advanced stages.

How To Prevent Glaucoma From Worsening

There are several ways to help slow down the progression of glaucoma and protect your eyes. These steps focus on maintaining good eye health and following your doctor’s advice.

Regular Eye Exams

Getting regular eye exams is very important for detecting glaucoma early. A comprehensive eye exam can find signs of glaucoma, such as increased eye pressure, damage to the optic nerve, and changes in the eye’s nerve head. The sooner it’s detected, the easier it is to manage.

Use Prescription Eye Drops

For many people with glaucoma, prescription eye drops are the main way to handle it. These drops can help lower the pressure in the eye by either reducing the fluid that builds up or helping the eye drain the fluid better. Using your eye drops as prescribed is key to managing your glaucoma.

Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can make glaucoma worse by affecting the blood flow to the eye. Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level can help reduce the risk of glaucoma getting worse.

Avoid Smoking

Smoking can increase stress in your body and damage your eye health. It’s important to avoid smoking to protect your vision and keep your eyes healthy.

Sleep Position

The way you sleep can affect your eye pressure. Try to keep your head slightly elevated while sleeping to help avoid rising eye pressure.

Adopt A Balanced Diet

Eating healthy foods can support eye health and help manage glaucoma:

• Dietary Nitrate Intake: Leafy greens contain nitrates, which can improve blood flow and help lower eye pressure.
• Dietary Fatty Acid Intake: Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and certain plants, support eye health.
• Oral Antioxidant Supplementation: Vitamins A, C, and E help protect the eyes from damage caused by stress and other factors.

Stay Active

Exercise, like walking or yoga, is great for your health and can help reduce eye pressure. Staying active can also improve blood flow to the optic nerve, which is important for eye health.

Manage Chronic Stress

Chronic stress can harm your eyes, so it’s important to find ways to manage it. Try things like deep breathing exercises, meditation, or mindfulness to help keep stress levels in check.

Wear Protective Eyewear

Protecting your eyes from injury is important. Wear protective eyewear to prevent injuries that could worsen glaucoma when playing sports or doing activities that could hurt your eyes.

Avoid Overexposure To UV Rays

The sun’s UV rays can cause harm to your eyes over time. Wearing sunglasses with UV protection can reduce the risk of eye damage and help prevent glaucoma from worsening.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking enough water is good for your health and can help prevent temporary eye pressure increases. Staying hydrated supports the health of your eyes and helps maintain a stable eye pressure.

Limit Caffeine Intake

Caffeine intake can temporarily increase eye pressure. To avoid this, try to limit how much caffeine you drink each day. Moderation is key to protecting your eyes while still enjoying your favourite drinks.

By following these simple tips, you can actively prevent glaucoma from worsening and protect your vision for the future. Check-ups with your doctor and a healthy lifestyle are important in managing glaucoma.

Treatment Options For Glaucoma Management

There are different treatments available to help manage glaucoma. These treatments aim to lower eye pressure, protect the optic nerve, and prevent vision loss. It is important to follow your doctor’s advice and stick to your treatment plan to help manage your glaucoma.

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)

Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is a type of surgery designed to help reduce eye pressure. It is less invasive than traditional surgery and involves making small cuts or using tiny tools. MIGS helps improve fluid drainage in the eye, which lowers intraocular pressure (IOP).

MIGS causes minimal disruption to the surrounding tissues, which helps speed up recovery. It is often a good option for people with early to moderate glaucoma, as it can effectively lower eye pressure with fewer risks.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy is another option for managing the symptoms of glaucoma. Different types of laser treatments are used for specific purposes.

Laser trabeculoplasty is used to help improve the drainage of fluid from the eye. It targets the trabecular meshwork, the part of the eye that controls fluid drainage. This procedure uses a laser to enhance the cells in the trabecular meshwork, helping fluid flow more easily and reducing eye pressure.

Laser peripheral iridotomy is used to treat acute angle closure glaucoma. This condition can cause a sudden rise in eye pressure and needs quick treatment. During this procedure, a small hole is made in the iris (the coloured part of the eye) to restore proper fluid flow. The hole allows the fluid to drain more effectively, which helps lower intraocular pressure.

Cataract Surgery

For some people with glaucoma, cataract surgery can be beneficial. Cataracts, which cause blurry vision, can sometimes make glaucoma symptoms worse. In some cases, cataract surgery can help reduce eye pressure and improve vision.

The surgery removes the cloudy lens of the eye and replaces it with a clear, artificial lens. This can help improve fluid drainage in the eye and lower intraocular pressure, which may lead to better glaucoma control.

These treatment options can help manage glaucoma and protect your vision. Each option depends on the type and stage of glaucoma and your individual health needs. Your eye doctor will discuss the best treatment plan for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is glaucoma curable?

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but with early detection and the right treatment, its progression can often be slowed down.

What should I do if I have a sudden increase in eye pressure or pain?

If you suddenly feel more pressure in your eyes or notice other symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma, seek medical help immediately. This is an emergency that needs quick treatment to avoid permanent vision loss.

Can I have glaucoma without high eye pressure?

Yes, you can have a type of glaucoma called normal-tension glaucoma, where the eye pressure is normal, but the optic nerve still gets damaged. This is why regular eye exams are important, even if your eye pressure seems fine.

Conclusion

Preventing glaucoma from worsening needs a thoughtful plan that includes medical treatments, healthy habits, and regular eye care. By working closely with an eye doctor and following these steps, you can protect your vision and live a better life.

If you’re worried about glaucoma, contact Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic at (03) 9070 3580! Our friendly eye doctors in Melbourne are here to help you with the right care and treatment.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Sources

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