Although a diagnosis of glaucoma is not life threatening, it can bring about lifestyle changes and fears for the future. Often, Glaucoma Australia is asked about the advisability of various activities and about how instilling drops can best fit in to daily routines. This page provides some guidelines.
Using your eyes is not harmful and they do not need to be "rested". Reading, writing, sewing, computer work and similar activities all encourage your eyes to focus up close. Focusing like this exercises the muscles inside your eyes as well as those around your eyes. Working the muscles inside your eyes helps the drain in each eye to work more effectively. Aqueous fluid can drain back to the blood stream more easily, encouraging the eye pressure to fall. If your eyes become tired with prolonged concentration, you can rest them periodically - but please don't worry that you have done them any harm. Similarly, longer distance viewing such as driving, watching TV or going to the movies does not harm your eyes.
Being physically fit and keeping your weight within a healthy range helps to prevent health problems e.g. heart attacks and diabetes, and is important for your overall well-being.
This help is in two forms: firstly, any measures which maintain the health of all blood vessels (such as avoiding smoking) will enhance the blood vessel nourishment of the optic nerve fibres; and secondly, physical activity actually reduces eye pressure directly for a few hours at least.
Intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering is the primary focus of glaucoma management. However, many patients often want to know what else they can do to reduce their glaucoma risk or help control their disease.
Some health conditions, including glaucoma, can affect our ability to drive safely and drivers are legally responsible in all States and Territories for reporting a medical condition that may impair/affect their ability to drive.
Most medications are safe in glaucoma, but there are some to be mindful of. This article looks at those medications that we take for other health conditions and their role in elevating the eye pressure, which may eventually lead to glaucoma.
Given there is no simple cure for glaucoma, it is not surprising people may look to alternative therapies. The internet is awash with potential ‘cures’, often promoting ‘natural alternatives’ in place of mainstream treatment options.
If you have glaucoma, it's important to know the support services that are available to help you in your glaucoma journey.
Get support from and talk to people who know what you are going through by joining our Facebook support group.
Vision loss from glaucoma is commonly asymptomatic and develops over time. This is why it is nicknamed the “sneaky blindness”. Changes in proficiency to perform daily activities may be an early indicator that vision is affected.
Whilst many people think of O&M as being centered around someone using a long cane, O&M programs do not always involve mobility aids and may focus on teaching the individual to use their functional vision effectively whilst moving through space.
It was Charles Bonnet, a Swiss philosopher, who first documented the case of his nearly blind grandfather “seeing” men, birds and tapestries before his eyes. This condition of visual hallucinations in people with visual deficits, who are psychologically normal, is now called Charles Bonnet Syndrome.
I am 90 years old, and I have had glaucoma for 8 years. I have sensitive eyes and I'm unable to go outside in bright sunlight unless I have someone to assist and guide me. I have also had to change all light globes in my house to a dull light called Led tube light.
