Are you displaying glaucoma symptoms? It may be too early to worry, but its never too early to practice preventative eye care to avoid the onset of glaucoma symptoms—or at least manage them more effectively if you do have glaucoma. Here are a few tips which may help prevent and treat normal-tension glaucoma.
Normal Tension Glaucoma Symptoms and Treatment
1. Regular Eye Exams
One preventive measure you can actively pursue, especially if you’re at risk of having the disease, is to undergo regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist. Glaucoma symptoms may not be experienced or noticed at an early stage. Some people don’t realize something is wrong until they experience blind spots in their field of vision. At this point, the optic nerve is already quite damaged and the vision loss may be permanent.
Of course, going through checkups regularly is not a form of treatment. But it will help you gain valuable insights regarding the health of your eyes and potentially catch disease development early.
Trivia: The cause of glaucoma is not clear. It may occur because the optic nerve is fragile and cannot handle the normal pressure or there isn’t enough blood reaching the optic nerve. Nevertheless, there are risk factors people need to be aware of. Individuals with a family history of normal-tension glaucoma or heart disease have a higher risk of also getting the disease. People of Japanese descent are also more susceptible.
2. Eye Drops
Prescription eye drops may help treat or manage normal-tension glaucoma. These eye drops lower intraocular pressure and helps to prevent further damage to the optic nerve. Some of them aid in reducing the pressure by decreasing the production and/or increasing the drainage of intraocular fluid.
Some people who choose to use these eye drops may experience side effects such as eye discomfort (like stinging and itchiness), headache, fatigue, changes in heart rate, dim vision, and memory problems, among others.
3. Healthy Lifestyle
A holistic lifestyle may help prevent glaucoma although this is not clinically proven. Living a healthy life can have a positive impact on your overall health, which may inadvertently reduce the risks of having normal-tension glaucoma. Eating healthy foods, decreasing caffeine intake, doing regular exercise, and engaging in relaxing activities such as yoga and meditation, are among the simple things people can do to maintain general health including, healthy eyes.
Natural-Tension Glaucoma Symptoms may go unnoticed until it’s too late. This is because, in some cases, the signs manifest slowly and gradually. Fortunately, you have the option to be proactive and protect your sight. You can do this by being vigilant with your eye exams and by starting to live a healthier life.
Learn more from Dr. Edward Kondrot here with his podcast on The Big Lie in Glaucoma Treatment Podcast.
Do you find this article on normal-tension glaucoma symptoms and treatment options helpful? Let us know in the comments section below.
