More than 4 million Americans are diagnosed with glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can cause permanent vision loss if not caught and treated early. Glaucoma usually happens when pressure inside the eye increases, damaging the optic nerve that sends vision information to your brain.
What many people don’t realize is that their overall blood pressure can also play a role in glaucoma risk and management. In recognition of High Blood Pressure Education Month, the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts is dedicating this post to a better understanding of the link between hypertension and glaucoma treatment and prevention.
While glaucoma is usually associated with changes in your intraocular pressure (IOP) — specifically, increases in IOP that in turn increase pressure on the optic nerve, resulting in irreversible damage and vision loss over time.
But IOP isn’t the only type of pressure that can influence glaucoma and its progression: Your blood pressure plays a role, too. In fact, both abnormally high blood pressure and unusually low blood pressure can increase your risk of glaucoma and make it more challenging to manage.
Like every other nerve in your body, the optic nerve depends on a steady supply of blood to provide the nerve with plenty of oxygen and nutrients. When your blood pressure is either too high or too low, it disrupts this supply and upsets the balance that supports normal nerve health and function.
Most of us know high blood pressure (hypertension) can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including those that nourish the eyes. Over time, that damage can interfere with circulation to the nerve, depriving it of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function and ward off damage associated with elevated IOP.
On the other hand, when blood pressure is too low, blood flow to the nerve is reduced from the start, further reducing oxygen and nutrients to the nerve. It’s important to note that even when blood pressure is normal during the day, nighttime drops in pressure during sleep can increase your glaucoma risk, too.
For these reasons, managing glaucoma often involves more than eye pressure control alone. Optimal eye care involves whole-health care, too, along with regular eye exams to monitor your vision as you age.
While there’s no cure for glaucoma, it can be managed to help slow disease progression and protect your vision over time. For most people, management involves a combination of treatment approaches focused on protecting the optic nerve, and that usually includes steps to keep your blood pressure under control.
In addition to prescription medication to help lower your IOP, your management plan will likely include regular blood pressure monitoring, along with lifestyle changes to support healthy blood pressure and overall wellness.
Depending on your needs and health profile, these changes may include interventions focused specifically on blood pressure management, like following a healthy eating plan and being more physically active. If your blood pressure is chronically high, glaucoma management could also include medications to improve pressure or support vascular health in other ways — for instance, taking statins to reduce “bad” cholesterol.
Our team also offers state-of-the-art laser therapy and microsurgery, using advanced techniques to improve drainage inside your eye and help prevent an increase in pressure that could cause continued damage to the optic nerve.
Glaucoma damage can’t be reversed, but early detection and proactive management can absolutely slow or stop its progression.
If you have glaucoma or want to learn more about your personal risk of developing the disease, regular eye exams are essential. To schedule yours, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts in Bellmore and Great Neck, New York, today.
