
Glaucoma affects more than 3 million Americans, producing vision loss and often leading to blindness. As glaucoma damages the cells in your optic nerve, that damage cannot be reversed. If diagnosed early, however, vision loss may be minimized or even prevented, adding to the list of reasons that make comprehensive eye exams so crucial for your eye health.
People Often Don’t Realize They Have Glaucoma
Estimates suggest that around 50% of people suffering from glaucoma don’t know that they have it. The condition often goes unnoticed in the early stages because the damage progresses gradually over time. Vision degrades slowly, as increasing pressure within the eye steadily leads to the death of nerve fibers that are essential for vision.
Steps You Can Take to Prevent Vision Loss from Glaucoma
You may be able to prevent vision loss and maintain your current vision if you follow these steps:
- Visit your ophthalmologist: Regular visits to an ophthalmologist for an eye exam are your first step in combating glaucoma. If you’re 40-54, you’ll want to schedule a comprehensive exam every 2-4 years. Ages 55-64 and 65+ should schedule visits every 1-3 years or every 1-2 years, respectively.
- Eat well: Diet plays a role in glaucoma because you can reduce your risks by maintaining a moderate weight and healthy blood pressure levels.
- Stay active: An active lifestyle makes it easier to maintain your weight and control blood pressure, which can influence glaucoma development.
- Consider what you put in your body: Smoking can increase your risk for glaucoma. Certain forms of steroids can also raise eye pressure, leading to glaucoma. Discuss your options with your eye doctor for best results.
Ultimately, preventing glaucoma-related vision loss comes down to getting regular eye exams so the condition can be diagnosed and treated early.
Treating Glaucoma Once it’s Diagnosed
If your ophthalmologist finds that you do have glaucoma, proper treatment should help to prevent further damage to your optic nerve. Prescription eye drops are a common treatment method, as they can help reduce eye pressure and decrease your eye’s fluid production.
Assuming they receive proper treatment, many glaucoma patients can maintain good vision for 20 years or more post-diagnosis. This, however, assumes the diagnosis is for open-angle glaucoma, the more common of the two types. The other type, angle-closure glaucoma, may produce substantial, rapid onset symptoms that require immediate treatment to prevent blindness.
If you're 40 or older, and it’s been a while since your last eye exam, contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care today at 352-373-4300. A comprehensive eye exam may just be the key to maintaining your vision for life.