Portland Outdoor Living

A Guide to Living With Glaucoma

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If you have glaucoma, you know that the main goal is to prevent damage to the optic nerve. If undetected or untreated, this can cause irreversible damage to the eye. That's why it's important to find the best treatment of glaucoma for you.

Here are a few things to know if you have been diagnosed with glaucoma.

Be Informed

Know the signs and symptoms of glaucoma so you can recognize whether your chosen treatments are working. The major signs are fluctuations in vision and peripheral vision that sometimes fails. For many people, high pressure in the eyes is also noticeable. However, in the early stages, there are often no signs. It's important to get regular eye doctor screenings for confirmation.

Common Treatments

The goal of all glaucoma treatments is to regain ideal eye pressure. You can achieve this via eye drops and occasional systemic oral medication. Laser treatment for glaucoma is equally effective as medication to prevent further damage in glaucoma eye conditions.

Possible New Treatments

Medical professionals are developing and testing new treatments for glaucoma. One possible option is contact lenses that contain glaucoma medicine. Another is a type of gel eye stent for glaucoma. These eye stents could provide an appealing alternative in cases where surgery is necessary. Stent placement only takes a few minutes and has a much quicker recovery time than surgery.

Natural Methods

My patients choose to treat glaucoma naturally. Methods include eating foods rich in carotene. These are found in fruits and vegetables that are orange, such as carrots and squash. The carotene is beneficial for the proper functioning of the eye. Other methods include limiting caffeine, as caffeinated drinks can raise eye pressure, and limiting sugar, as glaucoma often occurs in people who have diabetes. Limiting sugar can help both conditions.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, keeping a good schedule of doctor visits is crucial. He or she will have more information about glaucoma pertaining to the specific type you have. With your doctor, you can talk about which type of treatment you would like to take to give your eyes the best care possible.

Portland Outdoor Living