How to Prevent Glaucoma

This audio article is from VisualFieldTest.com.Read the full article here: https://visualfieldtest.com/en/how-to-prevent-glaucomaTest your visual field online: https://visualfieldtest.comSupport the show so new episodes keep coming: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2563091/supportExcerpt:How to Prevent GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve (the nerve connecting the eye to the brain). It often has no symptoms in early stages, which is why it’s called the “silent thief of sight.” Once vision is lost from glaucoma, it cannot be regained, so the best strategy is early detection and care to slow or stop its progression. Rather than being truly “preventable,” glaucoma can often be caught early and managed. The most powerful preventive step you can take is having regular comprehensive eye exams – starting in your 30s or 40s – to get baseline measurements and watch for any changes over time () (). For example, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) advises a baseline eye exam at age 40, with repeat exams every 2–4 years up to age 54, every 1–3 years ages 55–64, and every 1–2 years once you are 65 or older (). People at higher risk (such as those with family history, African or Asian ancestry, or prior eye injury) may need to start even earlier and test more often.The Importance of Regular Eye ExamsRegular comprehensive eye exams are critical because glaucoma damage is often silent until it is advanced. By getting an exam early (a “baseline” test) in your 30s or 40s, your eye doctor can record your normal intraocular pressure (IOP), optic nerve appearance, and visual field performance. Future exams can then detect any small changes. According to the AAO, exams every few years for adults help to catch eye diseases early (). During a comprehensive exam, doctors check:Intraocular pressure (IOP) – measured with an instrument (tonometry) to see how much pressure is inside the eye (). Optic nerve exam – looking through a dilated pupil to inspect the optic nerve head for swelling or cupping (). Visual field test – checks fuller peripheral vision, since glaucoma often causes “tunnel vision.” Gonioscopy – an exam of the angle between the iris and cornea to see if it’s open or narrow. Corneal thickness (pachymetry) – thickness affects IOP reading and risk, so it’s measured too (). Optical nerve imaging (OCT) – modern scans that map the retinal nerve fiber layer for thinning. All these tests together can detect early signs of open-angle glaucoma (the most common type) or angle-closure risk. If you have risk factors (family history of glaucoma, high myopia, steroid use, etc.), your eye doctor may check more frequently. The key point: never skip eye exams because mild glaucoma causes no pain or obvious symptoms until it is advanced () .Proven Prevention and Risk-Reduction StrategiesStay Active with Aerobic Exercise Moderate aerobic exercise can lower eye pressure and improve blood flow to the optic nerve. For example, a study showed that 30 minutes of moderate exercise (jogging on a treadmill) caused a significant drop in IOP for both healthy people and glaucoma patients (). Meta-analyses confirm that aerobic activity can reduce IOP by a few mmHg acutely (). Regular brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling is recommended for general health and may modestly reduce glaucoma risk. (On the flip side, very heavy straining lifts, like 1-rep max weightlifting, cause sharp spikes in IOP – one study found leg-press exercises raised eye pressure by an average of 26.5 mmHg – but only very briefly (). It’s best to practice controlled breathing during weightlifting and avoid sustained Valsalva strain.) Yoga is generally healthy, but inverted poses (headstands, sSupport the show