Glaucoma is manageable, especially when it’s treated early and consistently. If you are one of the 60 million people living with glaucoma, there are steps that only you can take to slow the disease progression and preserve your existing vision.

According to Jithin Yohannan, an ophthalmologist with the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine, adherence to your treatment regimen, along with some simple, healthy lifestyle habits, can go a long way toward preventing blindness from glaucoma. Here are some tips:

Follow Instructions

Some glaucoma treatments, such as eye drops, require daily administration in order to be effective. Some patients use multiple types of medicated drops or other combinations of therapies. It’s important to take all medications as prescribed, keep all your doctor appointments and use all devices as directed. 

Starting new habits can be challenging, however, so to help you get started, you can:

• Set alarms on your watch, phone, computer, or other device
• Leave notes to yourself where you’re sure to see them at appropriate times
• Ask a friend or loved one to be your ‘accountability buddy’

Let your doctor know if you have any issues with your treatments

Reduce Your Risk of Falls and Accidents

Due to the loss of peripheral (side) vision, glaucoma can increase your risk for falls and other accidents. Some fall prevention tips are:

• Clearly marking boundaries in your home, such as doorways, table edges and stairs using bright and/or contrasting colors
• Organizing frequently-used utensils, tools and appliances in easy-to-reach places
• Using a technique called ‘scanning’–turning your head to look in all directions for possible dangers or obstacles–before stepping into a new room, the street, etc.
  

Be Smart about Exercise

Exercising several times a week can improve your overall health, including eye health. Make sure to consult your doctor about what types of exercise are safe for you. The leading risk factor and symptom of glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which is your internal eye pressure, so you will likely need to avoid strenuous weightlifting, yoga positions that place your head lower than your heart and similar exercises that could aggravate your glaucoma and result in further vision loss. 

Don’t Give Up on Reading

Lower vision doesn’t mean that you have to stop reading. Hand-held, clip-on and table-top magnifiers are easily available, and most electronic devices including phones, tablets and laptops allow you to adjust font size for your comfort and convenience. Also pay attention to light, both ambient and electronic, and increase brightness for reading and any other tasks as necessary. If you already enjoy audiobooks, those continue to be an option for you.

Lean on Your Support Network

Reach out to members of your support network when you need information, comfort or help with your medication regimen or lifestyle changes. Your support network includes not only your ophthalmologist and optician, but also:

• Friends
• Family Members
• Mentors
• Clergy
• Peer Support Groups

Glaucoma is highly manageable, said Yohannan. If they follow their doctors’ instructions and adhere to their medication regimen, “The vast majority of patients will not go blind.”

*Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2021). 5 Tips for Living Better with Glaucoma. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-tips-for-living-better-with-glaucoma