Proactive tips about glaucoma

What is high eye pressure and how can it impact your vision?

Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease, meaning that, if left untreated, vision loss resulting from glaucoma can worsen over time and eventually lead to blindness. High eye pressure, also referred to as elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), is a common cause of glaucoma. However, you cannot feel eye pressure, which is why in the early stages of the disease, glaucoma typically does not have any symptoms, and can often go undiagnosed without routine eye exams.

High eye pressure occurs when aqueous fluid in the eye—used to transport important nutrients to the lens and cornea—accumulates and cannot drain naturally. In other words, there is an imbalance in production and outflow of aqueous humor, the fluid produced by the eye.

Although the development of glaucoma is not completely understood, we do know that it is associated with high eye pressure. The increased pressure damages the nerve fibers in the optic nerve and the retina, limiting a person’s field of view and quality of vision. Open-angle glaucoma (OAG), which is the most common type of glaucoma, has no obvious symptoms in its early stage. As glaucoma progresses, blind spots can begin to develop in the peripheral view (the outer part of the field of vision). These spots can go unnoticed until the optic nerve has experienced serious damage, or until it’s detected by an eye care specialist through a complete eye exam.

While elevated eye pressure can be measured by an at-home device, glaucoma can only be diagnosed during an eye examination. Therefore, it is important to schedule routine eye exams with your eye doctor. Close

How you can stay active with glaucoma

A glaucoma diagnosis can be overwhelming and unexpected, but it should not prevent you from living a fulfilling and active life. There are certain exercises you can do to potentially reduce high eye pressure (elevated intraocular pressure [IOP]) that can be associated with glaucoma. In this ProActive Tip, we’re sharing some glaucoma-friendly physical activities, as well as some you may want to avoid.

Exercises to enjoy: aerobic activity

Aerobic activities that have been found to lower eye pressure include walking, biking, swimming, and using stationary exercise machines (such as an elliptical). Aerobic activity has also been proven to improve cardiovascular conditioning, lower blood pressure, decrease the risk of heart disease, help control blood sugar, improve lung function, and more.

People who tend to have more sedentary lifestyles may experience a greater IOP-lowering impact when they incorporate aerobic exercise into their lives than people who are already active.

Proceed with caution: strength training

Strenuous activities, including weight lifting or strength training, may lead to elevated eye pressure so it’s best if you speak to your eye doctor first. Small/light weights may be okay, but if you begin to experience any visual symptoms or notice worsening of your vision, stop the exercise immediately and contact your doctor.

Activity to avoid: certain yoga positions

With glaucoma, there are certain yoga positions that should be avoided. For example, the headstand pose may increase eye pressure, especially if practiced for extended periods of time. Downward-facing dog, standing forward bend, plow, and legs-up-the-wall poses have been found to cause an increase in eye pressure immediately following the exercise. To play it safe, inverted positions should be avoided altogether, if possible.

However, if you love yoga and want to know how to continue this relaxing activity, there are plenty of poses you can still perform. Try the following to ensure you’re practicing this activity as safely as possible:

• Discuss your glaucoma with your instructor and explain how head-down poses may increase eye pressure and ask for alternative positions
• If something doesn’t feel right, stop—there’s no need to push yourself if you notice a certain position is bothering your vision
• If you’re still unsure or have any other questions, reach out to your eye doctor

Prioritizing your fitness is possible!

Although your glaucoma diagnosis can impact many areas of your life, it shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your favorite athletic activities, no matter what they may be. After all, exercise can be a great way to relieve eye pressure, mitigate stress, and benefit your overall health. If you have any questions or are unsure about a specific activity, it’s always best to reach out to your eye doctor directly to learn more.

Glaucoma expert: why early treatment is essential

Undiagnosed and untreated, glaucoma can limit a person’s field of view, quality of vision, and can eventually lead to blindness. The best chance to manage symptoms is with early detection and treatment. Since there are often no noticeable symptoms, the only way to detect glaucoma is through an eye exam.

Dr. Jonathan Haymore, of Spokane Eye Clinic, specializes in diagnosing and treating eye conditions, including cataracts and glaucoma, using laser and surgical glaucoma management techniques. In an interview with Dr. Haymore, he shared how important it is to monitor your eye health:

Why is early detection of glaucoma important?

My staff and I always talk about how glaucoma is the hardest eye disease that we have to treat. With most eye problems, the patient comes in knowing something is wrong. Glaucoma, for the most part, has no symptoms. The ways to detect and follow the progression of glaucoma have improved so much that with early detection we can prevent a lot of the vision loss that used to occur more frequently. The key is to have a regular eye exam where a trained eye doctor can recognize glaucoma in its early stages.

What can happen if someone’s glaucoma is not detected early and left untreated?

The hardest thing about glaucoma is that there are no symptoms until it is already in an advanced stage. You can damage a large part of your optic nerve before it ever becomes apparent in your peripheral vision loss. I lose sleep over a few memorable patients that the first time they came into the office they already had large blind spots from undetected glaucoma. With glaucoma, once the damage is done it cannot be reversed. However, the good news is we have so many ways to detect it early that much of the effects can be avoided. Again, the key is to have regular eye exams where early warning signs can be detected.

Be proactive with your eye health

Your eye health is important. Remember, it’s essential to proactively manage your eye health by staying on top of your eye appointments and discussing what treatment options are right for you with your eyecare provider.

How to make an appointment with a glaucoma specialist

After you receive a glaucoma diagnosis, your eye doctor may recommend that you visit a specialist and refer you to a physician within their trusted network. However, if you are not able to obtain a referral or make an appointment, you may need to find a new doctor. If so, there are a few things you may need to consider when it comes to finding an eye doctor who specializes in glaucoma, including: insurance coverage, distance, and available treatment options.

Be prepared for your appointment

Once you’ve found an eye doctor and made your appointment, make sure you’re prepared with the following:

• List any symptoms you’ve been having and include the length of time you have been experiencing each of them
• List any history you may have with eye problems, such as vision changes, other diagnosed eye conditions, and any eye discomfort. Write down 
any history of eye trauma and list any eye problems in your family, if known
• Write down your medical information, including other conditions you have, such as diabetes or issues with blood circulation, and all medications 
and supplements you’re currently taking
• Write down any questions you may have for your eye care professional, so you remember them. This will also help you make the most of your 
appointment. Potential questions can include:
  • What are the options to treat glaucoma, and what are the benefits of each?
  • I’ve heard about minimally invasive procedures that help manage glaucoma—can you tell me more about them?
  • What FDA-approved treatments may be more convenient and help reduce, or eliminate, the side effects and challenges associated with prescription eye drops?
  • What factors determine whether you recommend procedures for your patients with glaucoma? Do you think I’m someone who might benefit from one of these procedures?
  • How do procedures to manage glaucoma work? What are the procedures and recovery typically like?
  • What would my daily glaucoma management routine look like after one of these procedures?
  • What procedures are covered by my insurance?
  • Based on my condition, which minimally invasive procedure(s) may be best for me? Why?

Make an appointment today!

A glaucoma diagnosis can be scary, but support is available. There are skilled eye doctors who can help you understand the condition and discuss available treatment options. If you have glaucoma, talk with your eye doctor about taking a proactive approach to glaucoma treatment with a minimally invasive procedure.
 
Further prepare for your appointment by checking out this discussion guide.

Tips for talking about your glaucoma diagnosis

When preparing to share your diagnosis with others, it’s normal to try to anticipate what their reaction may be. However, talking with family and friends can be an important part of your journey and may help provide the support you need to get treatment. Also, because glaucoma is hereditary, being open about it with your family could encourage them to be proactive and get their eyes examined. Check out the following tips to help you in your discussions:

• Practice what you’ll say: When telling others about your glaucoma, it may be helpful to rehearse what you’re planning to say. That way, when you are ready to share, you won’t be at a loss for words
• Be prepared to answer questions: Because your family and friends care about you, they may have questions about your condition. Be prepared by learning as much as possible about glaucoma. This will help you feel ready to answer any questions. If you are unsure of any information yourself, it’s best to contact your eye doctor
• Ask for help: Family and friends can be incredibly helpful. If you are comfortable, ask them for specific support, such as driving you home from your appointments or keeping you company while you’re recovering from treatment. This will not only benefit you but also give others the opportunity to support you throughout your journey
• Offer to provide updates: After talking about your diagnosis with your family and friends, they may want updates on your condition. You can offer to share your progress throughout your journey. Chances are, they will take you up on your offer and appreciate it!

Time to get talking!

When it comes to talking to your family and friends about your glaucoma diagnosis, there’s no right or wrong way to do it—just do what works best for you. You deserve support, and once you share the news about your diagnosis with others, you can focus on your treatment—and, ultimately, your health and well-being.