Glaucoma Awareness from Right At Home High Point

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. In the early stages of the disease, there may be no symptoms. Experts estimate that half of the people affected by glaucoma may not know they have it.

Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve acts like an electric cable with over a million wires. It is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain.

There is no cure for glaucoma, yet. However, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. The appropriate treatment depends upon the type of glaucoma among other factors. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease.

It was once thought that high pressure within the eye, also known as intraocular pressure or IOP, is the main cause of this optic nerve damage. Although IOP is clearly a risk factor, we now know that other factors must also be involved because even people with normal levels of pressure can experience vision loss from glaucoma.

Adult glaucoma falls into two categories - open angle glaucoma and closed angle glaucoma.


Living with Glaucoma

You will probably need to make just a few changes to your lifestyle in order to manage your glaucoma effectively. As long as you are diagnosed early, visit your doctor regularly, and follow your recommended course of treatment, you can continue to live your life fully.

Try to schedule time for taking medication around daily routines such as waking, mealtimes, and bedtime. In this way, your medications will become a natural part of your day.

In addition to taking care of your physical health, it’s equally important to pay attention to the other side of glaucoma—the emotional and psychological aspects of having this disease.

Be sure to share your feelings. Especially in the beginning, it can be helpful to talk about your fears. Confide in your spouse, a relative, a close friend, or a member of the clergy. You may also want to talk with other people who have glaucoma. Sharing ideas and feelings about living with a chronic health condition can be useful and comforting.

Don’t let glaucoma limit your life. You can continue with what you were doing before glaucoma was diagnosed. You can make new plans and start new ventures. The eye care community, including the Glaucoma Research Foundation, will keep looking for better methods to treat glaucoma and will eventually find a cure.

Some daily activities such as driving or playing certain sports may become more challenging. Loss of contrast sensitivity, problems with glare, and light sensitivity are some of the possible effects of glaucoma that may interfere with your activities.

The key issue is to trust your judgment. If you are having trouble seeing at night, you may want to consider not driving at night. Stay safe by adjusting your schedule so that you do most of your travel during the day.

Sunglasses or tinted lenses can help with glare and contrast. Yellow, amber, and brown are the best tints to block out glare from fluorescent lights. On a bright day, try using brown lenses for your glasses. For overcast days or at night, try using the lighter tints of yellow and amber.

Experiment to see what works best for you under different circumstances.

Right At Home High Point can provide you the support you need to prevent and help care for your family members with glaucoma or glaucoma symptoms. If your loved one has special needs, Right At Home can work with you and your health care provider to provide the care needed.

Resources:

Glaucoma Research Foundation

All About Vision

WebMD