What can one do to avoid glaucoma?

What can one do to avoid glaucoma?

Unfortunately not much! There are 3 recognized risk factors for glaucoma: age, heredity and raised intraocular pressure. Age and genetic predisposition are 2 factors we cannot modify. Raised intraocular pressure is due to increased resistance against the outflow of intraocular fluid at the level of the trabecular meshwork and this process cannot be modified by diet or lifestyle. High IOP is independent of stress, blood pressure or eyestrain. Certain activities may increase IOP such as playing wind instruments (trumpet), adopting certain yoga positions (head-down), but it is unlikely that the short spikes of high IOP associated with these practices contribute to glaucomatous damage.

If we cannot do much to avoid glaucoma, we can do a lot to avoid glaucomatous damage! Since glaucoma is an insidious disease, have your eyes checked by an eye doctor in time and at regular intervals. Timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy will prevent glaucomatous damage, or, if already present, stabilize the visual field or at least delay further progression.

Finally, although there are no hard data, a number of studies suggest a beneficial effect of a healthy life style in patients with glaucoma: regular exercise, no smoking, moderate alcohol consumption and body mass control. Systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension should be closely monitored. It is important for patients who take antihypertensive drugs to avoid very low blood pressure values at night, as this may reduce the bloodflow in the eye and the optic nerve.