Treatment of glaucoma focuses on reducing pressure in the eyeball, also called intraocular pressure (IOP), and can be done through lifestyle changes and medical treatment. While this is not the only cause of glaucoma, it is currently the main focus for treatment. However, the therapy is different for open-angle or closed-angle glaucoma. Read on to learn about treatments at home and with your doctor's help.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Home Treatments
Step 1. Choose some relaxation exercises and techniques
Certain exercises can relieve stress and help relax and strengthen the eyes. For the most part they are exercises that you can do at home or wherever you are, as long as they are comfortable. Here are some examples:
- To wink. People concentrated in an activity tend to never blink without even realizing it, especially if they are watching TV or at the computer, both of which cause eye strain. Try blinking for the next couple of minutes, every 3 or 4 seconds. This is good for relaxing the eyes, refreshing them and preparing them to receive new information.
- Rest your palms. This exercise can help relieve stress around the eyes by simply covering them with cupped hands, fingers resting on the forehead and palms relaxed on the cheekbones. This way you can blink them freely and are sure not to put too much pressure on your eyes. So you rest not only your eyes, but your mind as well.
- Draw figure eight. This exercise helps the eye muscles and increases flexibility. Just close them and imagine a large number 8 in front of you, now imagine him lying horizontally, start moving his eyes tracing his silhouette. Do this exercise for a few minutes.
Step 2. Try "focus" or "convergence"
There are two other methods you can follow to keep your eyes healthy and stress-free. Here are the details:
- Focus. Find a relaxing place to sit. Put your thumb in front of you, about 30 cm away, try to focus your eyes on it and after a few seconds try to focus on another object, about 3-6 meters away. Don't forget to take a deep breath before changing the focus of the eyes!
- Convergence. This exercise improves your focusing skills and also strengthens your eye muscles. Try working with your thumb again. Place it in front of you by extending your arm and after a few seconds bring it closer, about 7-8 centimeters from the eye. Do this exercise for a few minutes.
Step 3. Eat a balanced diet
A healthy diet does not cure glaucoma, but some nutrients and vitamins that you can get through food can help you improve your eyesight. Here are some foods suitable for the eyes:
- Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is indicated for regular eye function.
- Leafy greens and egg yolks are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two powerful antioxidants.
- Citrus fruits and berries are rich in vitamin C.
- Almonds are rich in vitamin E, which is among the most important.
- Oily fish is rich in DHA and omega-3s, which are great for overall eye health.
Step 4. Limit your fluid intake, especially caffeine
Since it is eye pressure, drinking a lot of concentrated liquids in a single moment can temporarily increase the accumulation of liquids in the eye, resulting in a rise in pressure. Maintain constant hydration with water, for greater well-being.
- Limit drinks that contain caffeine, as they can help raise eye pressure. This means no sodas, only decaffeinated coffee and tea. Read the label first, to be sure!
- A cup of coffee a day is considered a safe amount. It is not clear how much, or why, coffee can increase intraocular pressure; however, it has an effect on blood flow and the vessels that feed the eyeball. Therefore, many health professionals recommend limiting it to one cup per day.
Step 5. Use the eye drops
This is the most common method of treating glaucoma. It lowers eye pressure slowly by improving fluid drainage in the eye. It is usually put every day, obviously under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. If this seems like a feasible solution for you, see your doctor. He will be able to point you to the most suitable eye drops for your needs.
We will talk about the three main types of eye drops in the next session. In any case, the doctor will be able to give you further information
Part 2 of 2: Medical Treatments
Step 1. Evaluate the use of beta blockers
This type of eye drops are used to reduce aqueous humor (medical term for fluid in the eye). Examples of this drug are Betimol, Betoptic and Optipranolol; it is usually given one drop, once or twice a day.
Side effects can include breathing problems, hair loss, fatigue, depression, memory loss, a drop in blood pressure, and impotence. For these reasons, people with lung disease, heart disease, and diabetes are given an alternative drug called betaxolol
Step 2. Talk to your doctor about prostaglandin analogs
This eye drops replaced beta blockers as the more commonly used drug, because it has fewer side effects. One drop, usually one per day, increases the flow of fluid into the eye and lowers the pressure in the eye.
Its possible side effects include redness and burning sensation in the eyes, a small swelling on the outside of the eye, and the iris becomes dark. The color of the eyelids can also change
Step 3. Know that cholinergic agents are also an alternative
These are also called miotics because they shrink the size of the pupils. On the other hand, they help in cases of glaucoma by increasing the flow of fluid into the eye. Common examples are pilocarpine and xalatan.
- Some side effects may be smaller pupils (less light entering the eye), blurred vision, frontal headache and an increased risk of retinal detachment.
- These eye drops are rarely used as a treatment for glaucoma, as they usually require one drop, 3-4 times a day. Rather, they are more easily administered to narrow smaller pupils before laser iridotomy, regardless of glaucoma.
Step 4. Consider taking an adrenergic agonist
This eye drops reduces the production of aqueous humor and at the same time increases its drainage. One drop per day is usually needed. Examples of this drug are Alphagan, Propine and Iopidine. Unfortunately, these are not very common because 12% of patients can have allergic reactions in the eyes.
Possible side effects can include irregular heart rate, high blood pressure, fatigue, red eyes, itching or swelling, and dry mouth
Step 5. Alternatively, consider carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
These eye drops are rarely used, but even these reduce fluid production in the eye. Examples of these drugs are Trusopt and Azopt, the indicated dose is one drop instilled 2-3 times a day. They can also be given as tablets to eliminate body fluids, including those in the eyes.
Possible side effects can include nausea, eye irritation, dry mouth, frequent urination, tingling in the fingers / toes, and a strange taste in the mouth
Step 6. If the situation worsens, consider having surgery
It is usually done if the eye drops or medications do not bring results or if the person cannot tolerate the side effects. The main reason for the surgery is, of course, to improve fluid flow in the eye to lower eye pressure.
- Sometimes, the initial surgery fails to completely lower the pressure in the eye, and a second surgery is required or continue to put in the eye drops. The different types of eye surgery are as follows:
- Drainage systems. They are usually made for children and those with advanced and secondary glaucoma.
- Laser surgery. Trabeculoplasty is a procedure that uses a high-energy laser beam to open clogged drains and let fluid easily flow into the eye.
- Laser iridotomy. This is done on people with very narrow drainage angles. A small hole is made on the top of the iris to improve fluid flow.
- Filtering surgery. In this procedure, a surgeon creates an opening in the sclera, the white part of the eye, and removes a small piece of tissue in the base of the cornea through which fluid exits to make it flow more easily.
