Glaucoma is frequently called a “silent” eye disease because its most common form may progress without clear early symptoms. Vision changes can go unnoticed until some damage to the optic nerve has already taken place. That leads to an important question: can glaucoma be prevented?
At the moment, we do not have a way to prevent all cases of glaucoma. But in a larger sense effective glaucoma prevention is still possible. We know your risk, get regular comprehensive eye exams, and start treatment when it is needed which in turn will help prevent or slow serious vision loss. The National Eye Institute reports that early detection is very important because once vision is lost to glaucoma related optic nerve damage it does not return.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a term used for a group of eye diseases which affect the optic nerve that transmits visual info from the eye to the brain. We see that it is also a common association with raised intraocular pressure or IOP. But also it is noted that some people develop glaucoma which in fact present with normal eye pressure.
Understanding the cause of glaucoma is a complex issue. In most common forms we do not find a single cause. Eye pressure, fluid drainage within the eye, genetic predisposition of the optic nerve, heredity, age and eye structure may all play a role.
Because in the early stages glaucoma may present no symptoms, regular eye care becomes of great import for long term vision.
Can Glaucoma Be Completely Prevented?
At present there is no way glaucoma prevention. completely. A healthy lifestyle does not guarantee that someone will get no glaucoma in particular if they also have risk factors which include age, genetics or the eye’s structure.
What is very much doable is to prevent unnecessary or advanced vision loss.
A full eye exam may help an eye doctor see high eye pressure, suspicious changes in the optic nerve and other warning signs before you notice any issue. If we detect glaucoma or a high risk condition at that stage we may put in place proper monitoring or treatment to in turn protect what vision is left.
Know the Main Glaucoma Risk Factors
Knowing which glaucoma risk factors you have for glaucoma is an important step in glaucoma prevention. Some of these risk factors are not changeable, but being aware of them may help to determine how closely your eyes should be monitored.
| Glaucoma Risk Factor | Why It Matters |
| Increasing age | Glaucoma becomes more common as people get older |
| Family history | Having close relatives with glaucoma can increase risk |
| High eye pressure | Elevated IOP is an important modifiable risk factor |
| Certain eye anatomy | Corneal thickness, drainage angle and optic nerve characteristics can affect risk |
| Diabetes and some systemic conditions | Certain health conditions are associated with increased glaucoma risk |
| Previous eye injury or surgery | Damage or structural changes may contribute to secondary glaucoma |
| Long-term corticosteroid use | Steroids can increase eye pressure in susceptible individuals |
The American Academy of Ophthalmology and National Eye Institute report that there are known to be glaucoma risk factors. are high eye pressure, age and family history.
Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams Matter
One of the best ways to glaucoma prevention is to detect it before it causes large scale vision loss.
Glaucoma assessment is a comprehensive process that goes beyond just reading an eye chart. What we do will be based on your particular case, in which an eye specialist will look at your eye pressure, the health of your optic nerve, the drainage angle, we will also look at the thickness of your cornea and may run visual field and optic nerve imaging tests.
People who have what is called glaucoma risk factors which includes strong family history of the disease or high eye pressure may do well to have more regular exams than those at lower risk. Your ophthalmologist is able to determine an appropriate exam schedule for you based on your age, eye and medical history.
Can Controlling Eye Pressure Prevent Glaucoma Damage?
Eye pressure is central to managing glaucoma. Not every patient has elevated pressure, but it remains the main modifiable risk factor used in treatment.
In those that have ocular hypertension or glaucoma an ophthalmologist may put forward pressure lowering medicines, laser procedures, surgery or other eye treatments, which are to be used based on the condition and the individual risk.
Research which was done by the National Eye Institute reports that certain high risk individuals with ocular hypertension can in fact reduce the incidence of primary open angle glaucoma by lowering eye pressure. At the same time it is also reported that not all patients with raised intraocular pressure require treatment. That will depend on the person’s total risk picture.
Can Lifestyle Changes Help With Glaucoma Prevention?
Healthy practices which in large part support overall health may also play a role in long term eye health care, but do not present them as a surefire way to prevent glaucoma.
Regular physical activity, eating well, not smoking and controlling conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure are good health practices. Also people should protect their eyes during activities which present a risk of injury for secondary glaucoma may result from that.
If you are using corticosteroid eye drops, tablets, inhalers or any other steroid medication do not discontinue them without medical advice. Instead let your ophthalmologist know what you are taking which may include non eye related steroids when they are assessing glaucoma risk factors.
These measures support for the most part glaucoma prevention strategies, but do not replace comprehensive eye exams.
What Are the Common Glaucoma Causes?
The glaucoma causes are not the same for each type of glaucoma.
In primary open angle glaucoma, drainage tissue resistance is an issue which leads to pressure which in turn damages the optic nerve. In angle closure glaucoma the eye’s drainage angle suddenly either gets blocked or it does close. Secondary glaucoma may develop as a result of a different eye issue, injury, inflammation, certain medicines, or from an underlying health issue. Also some types of glaucoma may present in early age of life.
Since various glaucoma causes require different treatments, a visit to the ophthalmologist is key in diagnosis which in turn is not to be based solely on symptoms or a pressure reading.
Early Diagnosis Can Help Protect Vision
Glaucoma related optic nerve damage is for the most part permanent. That is why early diagnosis is of great importance.
If you have glaucoma it is important to follow through with the treatment plan your doctor has prescribed and to report for all your follow up visits. Do not discontinue glaucoma medication because your eyes may feel fine. Open angle glaucoma in particular may progress without you noticing any tell tale symptoms until the disease is well advanced.
Anyone worried about their risk can visit an eye hospital for a full evaluation. At Vasan Eye Care, an ophthalmologist can assess patients for glaucoma and discuss monitoring or treatment options suited to their individual eye findings.
Conclusion
So can we prevent glaucoma? In many cases development can be arrested, but that is not to say that nothing may be done. What is best for glaucoma prevention is to know your individual glaucoma risk factors, for the disease, have thorough eye exams, and get treatment of elevated intraocular pressure or diagnosed glaucoma as is medical recommendation.
Because in the early stages there may be little to no change in vision, waiting for symptoms is not a healthful approach. If glaucoma is present in your family history or you are concerned about your intraocular pressure, see the ophthalmologists at Vasan Eye Care for a personalized risk evaluation and guidance in measures to protect your vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can glaucoma be prevented naturally?
There are no natural remedies which have been proven to prevent all types of glaucoma. Healthy diet, exercise and in general good health may play a role in eye health, but they are not a substitute for eye exams or medical treatment. What we do to glaucoma prevention is mainly to identify risk at the earliest stage and to control modifiable factors like high intraocular pressure.
- Can glaucoma be prevented if it runs in the family?
A past medical history of glaucoma in your family is something which is out of your control, but by all means present it to your ophthalmologist. If a parent, sister or brother has been affected by glaucoma then bring that up with your doctor. Regular in depth eye exams can do a lot in terms of identifying the disease at early stages which in turn will catch the vision loss early.
- What is the biggest preventable risk factor for glaucoma?
Elevated intraocular pressure is the primary modifiable risk element for glaucoma. We see that which eye pressure is reduced also which patients do better and that disease development is slowed in high risk patients and that progression of the disease is made less in those that have had glaucoma. The target pressure which is appropriate varies from person to person.
- Does normal eye pressure mean I cannot have glaucoma?
No. Glaucoma may present itself in a group that has what we would term normal eye pressure. This is which eye pressure is a stand alone indicator for the disease. Also in a full scale eye exam the health of the optic nerve, visual field and other internal eye structures is assessed.
- When should I see an eye doctor about glaucoma?
Discuss the option of glaucoma screening with an ophthalmologist if you have a family history, high eye pressure or other recognized risk factors. Go to the emergency room immediately for sudden severe eye pain, headache, blurred vision, nausea or rainbows around lights which are signs of acute angle closure.