While you can't completely avoid glaucoma, you can significantly lower your risk and slow its progression by adopting healthy habits and getting regular eye exams.
Here's how:
1. Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams
- Importance: Early detection is crucial. Glaucoma often has no symptoms in its early stages.
- Frequency: Discuss with your eye doctor how often you should be screened, based on your age, family history, and other risk factors. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that people at risk for glaucoma get checked every 1-2 years.
- What to Expect: These exams typically include tonometry (measuring eye pressure), visual field testing (checking for blind spots), and optic nerve evaluation.
2. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
- Healthy Weight: Maintaining a healthy weight can help regulate blood pressure and prevent other health conditions that can indirectly affect eye health.
- Blood Pressure Control: High blood pressure can increase the risk of glaucoma. Work with your doctor to manage your blood pressure through diet, exercise, and medication if necessary.
- Physical Activity: Regular exercise can help lower eye pressure in some people. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
- Avoid Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of many health problems, including eye diseases like glaucoma. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall health and vision.
3. Be Aware of Your Risk Factors
- Family History: If you have a family history of glaucoma, you are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Make sure to inform your eye doctor about your family history.
- Age: The risk of glaucoma increases with age.
- Race: African Americans and Hispanics have a higher risk of developing glaucoma.
- Other Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can increase the risk of glaucoma.
- Steroid Use: Prolonged use of steroid medications, especially eye drops, can increase the risk of glaucoma.
4. Eye Protection
- Protect your eyes from injury: Eye injuries can sometimes lead to traumatic glaucoma. Wear protective eyewear when participating in sports or activities that could potentially injure your eyes.
5. Adhere to Prescribed Treatments
- If you have glaucoma, follow your doctor's instructions carefully: This includes using prescribed eye drops as directed, attending all follow-up appointments, and reporting any side effects. This is the most important step to prevent vision loss if you already have glaucoma.
In summary, while completely avoiding glaucoma might not be possible, you can significantly reduce your risk and slow its progression through regular eye exams, a healthy lifestyle, awareness of your risk factors, and adherence to prescribed treatments if you have the condition.
