DON’T BE BLIND SIGHTED
by glaucoma, get your eyes tested.
GLAUCOMA IS A COMMON EYE CONDITION
often associated with aging where the optic nerve which connects the eye to the brain becomes damaged.
Glaucoma is usually caused by an increase in the pressure inside the eye due to a buildup of fluid in the front part of the eye.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. South Africa has a diverse population but there is a lack of published data amongst the different ethnic groups.
TIPS TO ENSURE EYE HEALTH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
Getting treatment early can help save your eyesight from conditions such as cataracts, cloudy vision, and floaters. Diabetes or high blood pressure can also increase your risk of some eye diseases. For example, people with diabetes are at risk for diabetic retinopathy — an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness.
Smoking increases your risk of diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts — and it can harm the optic nerve of your eyes. Try to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day or stop altogether. There is help available, but the choice starts with you.
Eating healthy and following a diet low in saturated fats and rich in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli will help keep you and your eyes healthy. Fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and tuna are also good for the health of your eyes. Additionally, it is important to maintain a healthy weight as obesity can increase the risk of developing diabetes, which in turn can cause sight loss.
If you find yourself in front of a computer all day it is important to take regular eye breaks. The 20-20-20 rule helps you to remember that for every 20 minutes spent using a screen you should try to look away at something that is 2 meters away from you for a total of 20 seconds. This will allow your eyes to completely relax and at the same time remind you to stop and take a hydration break. There are lots of apps you can download to help you remember to apply the rule every 20 minutes.
Eating healthy and following a diet low in saturated fats and rich in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli will help keep you and your eyes healthy. Fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and tuna are also good for the health of your eyes. Additionally, it is important to maintain a healthy weight as obesity can increase the risk of developing diabetes, which in turn can cause sight loss.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma can occur at any age but is more common in older adults. It is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60.
Types of glaucoma:
- Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma.
- Closed-angle glaucoma.
- Secondary glaucoma.
- Congenital glaucoma occurs in babies.
Risk factors:
- Being 40 years and older.
- Being on steroid medication.
- Having medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and migraines..
- Family history of glaucoma.
- A high degree of farsightedness or nearsightedness.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of glaucoma depend on the type and stage of your condition.Open-angle glaucoma
- No symptoms in early stages.
- Gradually, patchy blind spots appear in your side vision.
- Side vision is also known as peripheral vision.
- In later stages, difficulty seeing things in your central vision.
Normal-tension glaucoma
- No symptoms in the early stages.
- Gradually blurred vision.
- In later stages, loss of side vision.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
- Severe headache and eye pain.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Blurred vision.
- Halos or coloured rings around lights.
- Eye redness.
Glaucoma in children
- Dull or cloudy eye and increased blinking (infants).
- Tears without crying (infants).
- Blurred vision and nearsightedness that gets worse.
- Pigmentary glaucoma.
