Living a full, satisfying, and productive life with glaucoma is possible, and The BrightFocus Foundation is here to help you adjust to living with glaucoma.* Part One of this two-part article covered visual rehabilitation, developing your other senses, home and personal safety, and facilitating daily activities. In Part Two, we’ll go over physical health, mental health, and quality of life, as well as employment and income.

Physical health, mental health, and quality of life

The degree of vision loss from glaucoma varies with the individual. Be clear with yourself, your family, and your community of friends about both your needs and your wants. Accept that there will be an adjustment period, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. 

The three pillars of health, safety, and quality of life are:

• eye care,
• mood and mental health, and
• engagement with your support network.

Eye care

UV light can damage the eye’s surface and internal structures, including the cornea, retina, and lens. The effects are cumulative, so it’s critical to protect your eyes from the sun and glare. 

Here are some suggestions on how to protect your vision in the sun:

• Wear sunglasses that block 98 to 100% of UVA and UVB rays and screen out 75 to 90% of visible light. Wrap around sunglasses are best.
• Ask your eye doctor about adding UV protection to your regular prescription lenses.
• Wear your sunglasses even on cloudy days, as clouds do not protect you from glare and UV rays.
• Let your eye doctor know of any vision changes you experience.

DIY eye pressure measurement

Eye care at home may also include taking your own eye pressure measurements. This can be helpful for people who are unable to visit their doctor frequently enough to get the necessary number of readings—which are required for accurate diagnosis and effective follow-up. 

You can take readings using a portable tonometer. Your eye doctor can train you (and preferably a family member, too) to use this pen-like device to take readings at various times throughout the day. Ask your doctor if this option is appropriate for your situation.

Mood and mental health

Having to make adjustments for a low-vision lifestyle can cause feelings of depression, resentment, frustration, and grief, but there are healthy ways to cope with these and other emotions that may arise.

Some suggested coping strategies include:

• joining a glaucoma or low-vision support group;
• approaching each new challenge as an opportunity for creative problem-solving;
• finding a mental health professional who can help you talk through your feelings; and
• rallying your support network of family members, friends, colleagues, and care team.

Family and friends

Don’t underestimate the importance of reaching out to those closest to you and asking for help. They care about you and want to help. Communicate clearly and honestly with them. They will likely be relieved to be told what you need and feel useful. Help them divide up tasks that you need assistance with, including what you can and prefer to do on your own.

Some of these tasks may be:

• adapting your home and ensuring that both the outside and inside are safe;
• running errands that may involve driving or reliance on keener vision;
• transporting you to various types of appointments and outings; and
• preparing meals, doing laundry, and performing other housekeeping activities.

Employment and income

Developing glaucoma doesn’t mean that you can no longer work. Current and ongoing advances in treatments and technologies have opened up a variety of options for glaucoma patients to continue working, either uninterrupted or with reasonable accommodations. This will depend upon the type of work you do, though, and the kinds of adjustments that can be made to ensure your continued ability to do your job and maintain the quality of your performance.

Continuing in your current job

Take realistic stock of your desire and ability to continue in your current position, with or without modifications, before speaking with your employer. 

It’s crucial that you:

• explain your situation and its consequences honestly;
• be specific about aids you might need (better lighting, large print, etc.);
• clearly outline the responsibilities you can and cannot carry out; and
• demonstrate forethought regarding how to find the best solution for both you and the company. 

Services and support

Your state should have a rehabilitation agency for the visually impaired. Call and ask to meet with a counselor who can coordinate training and services for you. 

This may include:

• a mobility and orientation specialist to help you get to and from work and/or move around your job site;
• a vision rehabilitation specialist to teach you adaptive grooming, writing, and reading skills; and
• a vocational counselor to recommend vision aids. 

In some cases, employers are legally required to provide adaptive devices to help you continue to do your job.

Leaving your current job

Research all your options before making any decisions. If you don’t think that you can continue in your current position, there are a number of options for you to look into.

These include: 

• other jobs in your field;
• related jobs that are not in your field, but for which you can translate existing knowledge, skills, and experience; and
• options for early retirement, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Knowledge is power, and it never hurts to know all your options. 

For more information on living with glaucoma, check out this comprehensive PDF put together by the BrightFocus Foundation, called “Glaucoma: Essential Facts.”

*BrightFocus Foundation. (2018, June 21). Glaucoma: Living with Your Disease.

Any sources from outside of Prevent Blindness do not imply an endorsement from Prevent Blindness. The contents of the material used are the responsibility of the authoring organization, Responsum Health.