What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition of the eye in which fluid pressure builds up and damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss. It’s one of the leading causes of blindness and affects around 70 million people worldwide.

While it can be scary, there are effective treatments available and lifestyle changes that can help you manage glaucoma and slow down its progression.

What Treatment Options are there for Glaucoma?

Medication for Glaucoma

Medication is often prescribed to reduce fluid build-up and decrease eye pressure. Some medications, such as eye drops with beta blockers, can help prevent further damage to the optic nerve while others, like prostaglandin analogs, reduce the amount of fluid created in the front of your eye.

Surgery for Glaucoma

Surgery may also be an option if medications aren’t managing your glaucoma symptoms. Lasers and traditional surgery options aim to improve drainage from the eye, reducing pressure within it.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Glaucoma

Lifestyle changes, such as wearing sunglasses when outdoors to protect your eyes from UV rays or quitting smoking can be beneficial for glaucoma management too. Studies have found that sunlight exposure is associated with greater risk of open-angle glaucoma so protecting your eyes with shades is important! Eating healthy foods packed full of nutrients and vitamins that help fight free radicals – antioxidants – may also prove beneficial.

Manage Stress Levels to Control Glaucoma

Managing stress levels is also key for keeping glaucoma under control as studies have found stress hormones could increase intraocular pressure within your eyes and consequently damage the optic nerve over time.

Overall, even though glaucoma can seem scary there are numerous treatment options available thanks to modern technology combined with lifestyle changes that many find helpful too!