If you are one of the more than three million Amerians living with glaucoma, it is possible you may not even know you have the condition. Since the most common type of glaucoma (open-angle glaucoma) comes with no warning signs or symptoms in its earliest stages, many people don’t even know they have it.
This is why early detection is so important. Glaucoma is an irreversible disease—that means, once vision is lost, it cannot be recovered. If left untreated, glaucoma can ultimately lead to blindness. For this reason, when it comes to detecting and treating glaucoma, the earlier, the better.
Regular comprehensive eye exams, including focused glaucoma testing, are important for the early detection and diagnosis of glaucoma. If diagnosed early enough, the experienced doctors at Ighani Eye Care can recommend a minimally invasive procedure to manage your glaucoma and help prevent loss of vision or further loss of vision.
Partner with an Expert for Glaucoma Management
At Ighani Eye Care, we are passionate about educating our patients about their glaucoma so that, together, we can ensure you achieve your best possible vision and eye health for a lifetime. Dr. Farshid Ighani and Dr. Brian Anding will craft a treatment plan for your unique ocular condition.
There is presently no cure for glaucoma, but we are able to control and stabilize the condition by keeping eye pressure in a healthy range. This range can be different for each individual and is dependent on a few factors, including the severity of the condition, the person’s age and corneal thickness.
“The goal of any glaucoma treatment is to lower your eye pressure, preserve your current level of vision and prevent any further damage,” said Dr. Anding. Treatment type can vary, depending on the type of glaucoma diagnosed, the degree to which the condition has progressed, underlying risk factors and other variables.
“Generally, prescription eye drops and oral medications, laser procedures and operative procedures are all utilized in an attempt to preserve vision,” added Dr. Ighani (Dr. I). “We also offer what is called MIGS, or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, and these procedures offer several advantages over traditional surgery. They are minimally invasive, nonpenetrating procedures that do not create a permanent opening in the wall of the eye.
Lifestyle Tips for Living With Glaucoma
As we mentioned earlier, managing an eye disease like glaucoma is a team effort. If you or someone you love is living with glaucoma, we’d like to share some lifestyle practices that may help you manage the high eye pressure associated with glaucoma so you can keep living the life you desire:
- DO get cardiovascular exercise like walking, jogging, playing pickleball or biking.
- DO eat a healthy diet—foods like berries, lentils, spinach and even dark chocolate contain nutrients that have been shown to help prevent glaucoma disease progression and increase blood flow to the optic nerve.
- DO have regular comprehensive eye exams.
- DON’T engage in activities that restrict exhalation or require holding your breath—such as playing wind instruments or lifting heavy weights.
- DON’T eat foods that are high in saturated fats, trans fats and refined carbohydrates (like packaged baked goods and microwave popcorn) or have excessive amounts of red meat, processed meats and caffeine.
- DON’T smoke, vape or chew tobacco.
Remember, none of these tips is a replacement for having an annual comprehensive eye exam with your trusted eye care provider.
I Care, You’ll See
At Ighani Eye Care, it is our passion and our honor to care for your eyes, in every season of life. From laser vision correction and modern cataract surgery to the diagnosis and treatment of many eye conditions including retinopathy, macular degeneration and dry eye, we are here for you and your family. Schedule an appointment today and see the difference we can make.
