What is Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions in which increased fluid pressure inside the eye causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is responsible for carrying visual information from the eye to the brain. If left untreated, it will eventually lead to blindness. There are several different types of Glaucoma, although the two most common are, open-angle and angle-closure. Both types of glaucoma are caused by an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), or pressure inside the eye. Not all people with increased eye pressure are guaranteed to develop glaucoma, glaucoma depends on the level of pressure your optic nerve can tolerate without being damaged. While this varies from person to person there are steps everyone can take to help prevent glaucoma.

How to Help Prevent Glaucoma

Early detection is the number one way to help prevent glaucoma. When glaucoma is caught in the early stages it can be treated with medication that can help reduce the elevated intraocular pressure to prevent optic nerve damage. Being sure to schedule regular eye exams will help ensure that glaucoma will be caught early. High blood pressure has also been found to directly impact increased eye pressure and glaucoma. Exercise is a great way to get two birds with one stone, while lowering your blood pressure you can also lower your chances of developing glaucoma. A regular exercise program of walking, jogging, biking, or yoga can be extremely beneficial to both your eye and overall health.