Although there is currently no cure for glaucoma, prompt treatment can help slow or stop the progression of vision loss.
There's no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision.
A potential new glaucoma treatment has been developed by Georgia Tech researchers that could replace daily eye drops and surgery with a biannual injection that controls the buildup of pressure in the eye.
Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is increasingly being used as a first-line therapy to lower IOP by glaucoma specialists. SLT uses short pulses of low-energy light to target pigment in a glaucomatous eye. In response, the natural healing mechanisms of the body then rebuild these cells.
While people living with glaucoma may have to make adjustments, you don't have to limit your life because of glaucoma. Most people can live an active and fulfilling life. However, living with glaucoma may require increased visits to your eye care team and adherence to medications.
Absolutely. The aim of treating patients with glaucoma is for them to be able to maintain their quality of life and live as normally as possible. Patients with glaucoma have a normal life expectancy and, with treatment, can carry out activities as they did before diagnosis.
Glaucoma is a serious, lifelong eye disease that can lead to vision loss if not controlled. But for most people, glaucoma does not have to lead to blindness. That is because glaucoma is controllable with modern treatment, and there are many choices to help keep glaucoma from further damaging your eyes.
There are actions that you can take to slow the progression of glaucoma. Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can help. It also helps to reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine. It is important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
VYZULTA is a modification of a current class of medications currently used to treat glaucoma – the prostaglandin analogs. This drug helps lower intraocular pressure by increasing the drainage of fluid (aqueous humor) from the eye.
Diets high in fruits such as have been shown to lower the risk of glaucoma development. The most discussed benefit is through antioxidants. As oxidative stress is associated with optic nerve injury, fruits high in antioxidants, such as pomegranate, acai berries, cranberries offer the most neuroprotection.
Maintaining a healthy weight, controlling your blood pressure, being physically active, and avoiding smoking will help you avoid vision loss from glaucoma. These healthy behaviors will also help prevent type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) has become the preferred approach to glaucoma management for many eye care professionals and their patients with mild-to-moderate glaucoma.
Patients who catch glaucoma early can go on to live healthy, normal lives. Without treatment, however, optic nerve damage will likely continue, and patients will gradually and permanently lose peripheral vision.
High trans fats have been proven to cause damage to the optic nerve. Time to cut out fried foods, baked goods and any product with an ingredient list that includes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Saturated foods that include red meat, beef, lard, shortening and oils can also worsen glaucoma.
If undetected and untreated, glaucoma first causes peripheral vision loss and eventually can lead to blindness. By the time you notice vision loss from glaucoma, it's too late.
Certain drugs and eye diseases can cause yet another form of the disease, called secondary glaucoma. But probably the most serious form of the disease is closed-angle glaucoma. It occurs when the angle becomes suddenly blocked, causing pressure in the eye to rise sharply.
It may seem strange, but nearly 50% of people diagnosed with glaucoma stop taking their medications within six months!
Glaucoma can cause blindness if it is left untreated. And unfortunately approximately 10% of people with glaucoma who receive proper treatment still experience loss of vision.
Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness in the U.S. It most often occurs in people over age 40, although an infant (congenital) form of glaucoma exists.
The optic nerve gets damaged a lot because of high pressure in your eye. In adults 60 and over, glaucoma is one of the main causes of blindness. While anyone can have glaucoma, adults are more likely to develop it. There are no warning signs for most types of glaucoma, which is why it's something to worry about.
Stage 4 (End-Stage) Glaucoma – This occurs when there is little to no healthy eye tissue left, and vision is increasingly limited. While blindness during end-stage glaucoma isn't a certainty, the risk is significantly elevated when this stage is reached.
Many people assume that 'using your eyes' can worsen your glaucoma. Reading, watching TV or using your phone or computer does not have any impact on your glaucoma.
Summary. Living with glaucoma does not necessarily mean giving up driving. Some drivers with glaucoma learn to scan the visual environment such that they are still safe drivers. However, it is important to have your driving assessed if you or your family and friends are concerned about your driving.