Roughly 3 million Americans have glaucoma, a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve, eventually leading to permanent vision loss. In fact, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.
While there’s no way to 100% prevent glaucoma, you can reduce your risks of developing the disease by making a few simple changes to your regular routine and lifestyle. In this post, the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts reviews what steps you can take to protect your vision.
Almost everyone knows carrots are good for your eyes, but that’s just the beginning. Eye health benefits from lots of other foods, too, like leafy greens, colorful fruits and vegetables, and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, like oily fish, avocados, and certain nuts.
These foods protect your optic nerve by improving blood flow, reducing inflammation, and minimizing cell damage. At the same time, aim to reduce your intake of processed foods and sugary foods, as they can raise pressure inside your eye, increasing your risk of optic nerve damage.
Being overweight can affect your health in several ways, including increasing your risks of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes — each of which can increase your risk of developing eye problems like glaucoma. Dropping extra pounds not only protects your overall health but also your eye health.
Best of all, you don’t need to lose a lot of weight to reap big benefits. Even a modest weight loss can improve circulation in and around your eyes, while also reducing your cholesterol and blood pressure.
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but it tends to be more common among people with certain risk factors, like:
Recent research shows people who have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may also have an increased risk of glaucoma.
Smoking reduces blood flow to your eyes, including your optic nerve and the surrounding tissues. That means your eyes receive less oxygen and nutrients, while toxins and wastes aren’t removed as quickly.
Quitting smoking improves circulation in your eyes, reducing your risk of glaucoma (and other eye problems). The earlier you stop smoking, the faster you can start enjoying those benefits. Need help quitting? You can find a list of tips and resources on the SmokeFree.org website.
Certain medications can increase eye pressure or reduce blood flow to the optic nerve. That includes relatively common drugs, such as certain blood pressure medications and corticosteroids. In fact, long-term steroid use is a well-known risk factor for glaucoma.
While you should never stop taking medication without talking to your prescribing doctor, you should definitely let us know what medications you’re taking when you come in for your next visit.
Moderate aerobic activity such as walking, swimming, or cycling helps lower eye pressure and improve blood flow to the optic nerve. Exercise also supports cardiovascular health and reduces your risk of diabetes, both of which are risk factors for eye health issues.
Ideally, aim for at least 30 minutes of activity on most days and at least 150 minutes each week. Avoid exercises that involve frequent head-down positions (like certain yoga poses), as these can raise the pressure inside your eyes temporarily.
Glaucoma is sometimes referred to as the silent thief of sight simply because it often causes no symptoms until permanent vision loss occurs. However, while you may not notice the early stages of the disease, your eye doctor certainly can.
Having regular, comprehensive eye exams is one of the best ways to spot the subtle changes associated with early glaucoma. Early detection allows us to help you take important steps to reduce your risk of vision loss and improve the health of your optic nerve.
All of these tips can help reduce your risk of glaucoma, and even better, they promote better eye health and overall wellness. To learn more about glaucoma management or to schedule an eye exam and glaucoma screening, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts in Bellmore and Great Neck, New York, today.
