Understanding Glaucoma

According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the United States, affecting more than 3 million Americans. Glaucoma is more prone to affect older adults, but it can develop at any age, and most people living with glaucoma are unaware they have it until the disease is in its later stages. January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to learn about glaucoma, how it affects your vision, and ways to prevent or slow the progression of the disease.

What is Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often due to high pressure behind the eye. Glaucoma is a progressive disease, and many forms of glaucoma have little to no warning signs. However, risk factors for glaucoma include high internal eye pressure, having a family history of glaucoma, thin corneas, and extreme nearsighted or farsighted vision. It’s also more common to develop in seniors and those with severe eye injuries or eye surgery. If left untreated, glaucoma may lead to vision loss and is the leading cause of blindness in people older than 60.

There two main types of glaucoma are:

Open-angle glaucoma- Open-angle is the most common form of glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma means the angle where the cornea and iris meet, but the drainage canals are slowly clogged. Without proper drainage, pressure behind the eye increases.
Angle-closure glaucoma- Angle-closure glaucoma happens when the angle between the cornea and iris starts to close. The closure blocks fluids from leaving the eye and can cause extreme eye pain, red eyes, and blurry vision. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency and should be inspected by a doctor as soon as possible.

Diagnosing and Treating Glaucoma

Doctors can usually diagnose glaucoma through a comprehensive eye exam. During an eye exam, your doctor may measure eye pressure, check for vision loss, measure the thickness of the cornea, and test for optic nerve damage.

There is no cure for glaucoma, but there are treatments available to slow the progression of the disease. One of the primary treatment goals for glaucoma is to lower eye pressure. Doctors can lower eye pressure through a combination of prescription eye drops, medications, laser treatments, or surgery. If you are experiencing pain, your doctor may also prescribe medicines to reduce your discomfort.

Preventing Glaucoma

If you have an increased risk of developing glaucoma, consider the following to help prevent or slow the progression of the disease.

Attend regular eye exams. Having regular eye appointments with your doctor can help detect glaucoma before you experience significant eye damage.
Protect your eyes. Reduce your risk of severe eye injuries by wearing protective eyewear wherever necessary.
Manage your blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma, so it’s vital to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.
Learn about your family health history. Those with a family history of glaucoma have an increased disease risk. If you’re unsure about your family health history, talk to loved ones to learn if relatives have lived with glaucoma or other hereditary conditions.

How Visiting Angels Can Help

If you or an aging loved one is living with glaucoma or another eye condition that makes it challenging to live alone, the team at Visiting Angels can help. Our professional caregivers assist seniors with various at-home services such as light housekeeping, personal grooming, meal preparation, medical reminders, transportation, and more.

Our St. Louis Park office serves Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Richfield, and the West Metro. If you’d like to learn more about our services, you can complete this online form or call us at 952.935.0789.