By Ashley Houston


A diagnosis of glaucoma can be devastating to hear. This horrid disease can cause a certain amount of vision loss or even blindness. Since treatments for glaucoma range from medication to surgery, you should talk to your doctor to find out which is most appropriate for your case.

As of right now, there is no cure for glaucoma, but you can still take advantage of a variety of treatments such as eye drops and surgery. Since these treatments help relieve pressure in the eyes, the damage to the optical nerve is reduced and slowed down. Surgical treatment can be undergone by laser or by traditional cutting surgery, and both routes are safe and effective.

Should you suffer from headaches when reading, see halos, or experience blurry vision, especially when entering a dark zone, you should contact your doctor at once to determine if you are experiencing problems with glaucoma. Some of the symptoms of glaucoma include low awareness of color, reduced night vision, and "disappearing" words when reading.

Glaucoma is not easily diagnosed through a specific test. Instead, she will likely look at a number of things such as visual field, the condition of the optic nerve, symptoms you're experiencing, intraocular pressure and decreased vision to see on either side and inability to perceive motion.

Some lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of increased high pressure. Some form of regular exercise can lower eye pressure. Although diet plays a small part in controlling glaucoma, you should avoid caffeine which may elevate eye pressure and drinking large amounts of any liquid within a short amount of time also increases pressure. As extra precaution, wear sunglasses with a high UV protection.

If you have received a diagnosis of glaucoma, and your doctor has prescribed a treatment with eye drops, make sure you only use them as directed. Most of the issues experienced by glaucoma sufferers is due to the ineffective way medicines are used. One reason for this may be that some people - especially the elderly -- have trouble getting the drop in the eye because of shaking or stiffness in the joints caused by arthritis or other joint diseases. Also, senior citizens may have problems in paying for the glaucoma medication.

If cost of medication is an issue, talk to your health care provider about lower cost medication. Beta blockers are fairly inexpensive at about $5 a month, and research shows they are effective in lowering eye pressure. Also, get in touch with the Glaucoma Research Foundation or the National Eye Institute. Both organizations can provide useful information about glaucoma.

Patients diagnosed with glaucoma that are experiencing any difficulties undergoing treatment, should definitely talk to their doctor. There is a solution to any of these problems, and it is vital for patients to know just how important treatment is.




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