If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, it’s important to know that you can take steps to slow or prevent its progression, especially if it is detected early. Consultant Ophthalmologist Tarun Sharma explains that, while in some patients Glaucoma can lead to irreversible blindness, lifestyle changes and medication can reduce its impact. Here are his top tips and recommendations on what you can do to help live better with glaucoma.
- Keep on top of your Medications
You may need to take various eyedrops throughout the day to manage your Glaucoma. You should maintain a schedule to take the correct dosage on time. Mr Sharma suggests setting alarms and alerts on devices such as your mobile phone, for reminders throughout the day. Be sure to make your doctor aware if you have any problems with your medications and dosages.
- Avoid Falls and Accidents
Glaucoma has the potential to increase the risk of falling and accidents due to loss of side vision. It is important to clearly mark boundaries in your home. Areas such as doorways, drawers, counters, and table edges can be identified with bright or contrasting coloured tape or paint. Mr Sharma recommends using a technique called scanning. This is where you take a careful look at your surroundings by moving your head from left/right and top/bottom to cover your entire field of vision before walking. This can help identify things such as steps and other objects that might be missed along the journey.
- Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Exercise not only improves your health, but eye health too. Exercising several times per week can be very beneficial but be sure to consult with your doctor about how much exercise you should do. Mr Sharma would like to make you aware of doing exercises such as yoga. Some yoga positions require your head to be below your heart, this can increase eye pressure, which is an important risk factor for the worsening of glaucoma.
- Continue Reading
People with poor vision may find reading challenging, but there are tools that can help. Handheld magnifying devices enhance labels or text in books. Mr Sharma suggests to use audiobooks – this allows you to enjoy books without having to read, and when using the computer, make sure to adjust the font size and contrast on your computer to make it easier to read.
- Embrace Your Support Team
Seek help from friends and family for transportation and other means of support if you find you are struggling. A support team can help with many of the above tips, including medication management and healthy habits. Most importantly, stay in contact with Mr Sharma with regular check-ups, and keep him up to date on the status of your condition. He is here to help best manage your treatment plan when needed or involve other eye care teams if necessary.
Tarun Sharma is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon who carries out his NHS work at Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust since his appointment in 2007.