Glaucoma is a serious, degenerative eye
condition that is largely hereditary and can be treated in order to control
disease progression; but has no cure. Glaucoma is often hard to detect as
symptoms are not obvious in its early stages. The most striking part of glaucoma
is that it can lead to irreversible vision loss and even blindness, if left
untreated. Ample knowledge about glaucoma can help you understand the condition
better and find out how to prevent its progression while in its early stages.
Here Are the
Things You Need to Know About Glaucoma:
Glaucoma is
a slow disease. Glaucoma usually deteriorates progressively over
the years when excessive eye pressure builds up, leading to damage in the optic
nerves. In untreated cases, it can take an average of 15 years before glaucoma leads
to serious vision loss, starting from the periphery.
Glaucoma is
most common with older people. The age where glaucoma
is best detected is 35, especially for those with a family history of the
disease. Meanwhile, people over 60 years old naturally have a much higher risk
of getting glaucoma. To be safe, make a visit to an ophthalmologist for a
detailed eye screening every one or two years.
Glaucoma is
largely hereditary. If your parents, sibling or relative has
a history of glaucoma, it is very likely that you will develop it too. In this
case, the safest thing to do is to consult your eye doctor and get an eye
assessment and early intervention.
Glaucoma
eye drops can greatly slow the progression of glaucoma. Glaucoma
eye drops are usually the primary form of medication to help patients control
the pressure in their eyes over a long period of time. The eye drops work by either
reducing the intraocular pressure in the eye, reducing fluid production in the
eye, or helping the eye’s fluid drain better.
Glaucoma
can be diagnosed through tests conducted by your eye doctor. Tonometry
and ophthalmoscopy are some of the tests conducted to diagnose glaucoma. A tonometry
measures the pressure inside the eye, and an ophthalmoscopy checks for damage
in the optic nerve. Your eye doctor may also conduct a vision test to check
your peripheral vision, which tends to be affected first in glaucoma.
What Can You Do to Lessen
the Risk of Glaucoma?
Although glaucoma is not curable, early
detection and treatment can greatly manage its progression and reduce the
damage done to your vision.
● Consult
your Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist -
Consulting your ophthalmologist for an eye check-up can allow the doctor to
diagnose and treat your glaucoma while in its early stages, thereby slowing disease
progression and preventing further damage.
● Wear
Sunglasses - Having glaucoma can make your eyes more
sensitive to sunlight. Sunglasses that blocks UV rays and come with wraparounds (that curve around the sides of your eyes) are the
most effective in giving you relief from glare, and in protecting your eyes.
Other types of sunglasses that can relieve
discomfort for glaucoma patients include: polarized glasses, mirror-coated
glasses, and photochromic glasses.
· Polarized glasses cut the reflected glare
of light
· Mirror-coated glasses have reflective coatings that appears like small mirrors.
This lowers the amount of entering the eyes
· Photochromic glasses darken immediately
when exposed to sunlight and lighten when indoors,convenient option of
protective eye-wear
● Eat
Vitamin-Rich Foods - Eating nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables
with higher vitamin A and C can help reduce the risks of glaucoma. Some of
these include kale, spinach, celery, carrots, peaches, and beets. In addition,
pomegranate, acai berries, and cranberries (which are rich in antioxidants) can
aid in preventing oxidative stress, commonly associated with the damage of the
optic nerve.
● Regular Exercise - Regular moderate exercise can lower eye pressure
and improve blood flow in the eyes. However, the benefits of exercise for
glaucoma patients can only be achieved if done consistently. Do note that some
rigorous exercises that require inversion of the body like upside-down yoga,
pole dancing and scuba diving are not advisable for glaucoma patients.
● Eat Omega-3
Rich Foods - Eating omega-3 rich foods such as tunas and
salmons can help reduce dryness in the eyes. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids
combined with Vitamins B and E can also help in improving visual fields and
retinal sensitivity.
Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr
Steve Seah, was the former Head and Senior Consultant of the Glaucoma Service
at the Singapore National Eye Centre, giving him in-depth experience in the
care and treatment for glaucoma patients, which he now specializes in in his
practice.
Dr Seah is also proficient in providing
quality ophthalmologic services for patients with cataracts, retinal diseases
and diabetic retinopathy. If
you have any questions or would like to request for additional information about
Glaucoma, you may visit our website or call us at 6565 6888 today.
