I will tell you about 5 secret methods to prevent glaucoma. Some people may think that glaucoma is a natural condition that occurs with age. Remember to always know how to prevent glaucoma, as it can lead to blindness if left untreated.

Glaucoma

The goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower intraocular pressure to prevent optic nerve damage, and thus maintain good vision for life. Intraocular pressure is the pressure in the eye, and there are three main ways to lower it. First, there is medication, second, laser treatment, and third, surgery.

Glaucoma Causes

Glaucoma occurs when the green pigment cells inside the eye interfere with the circulation of eye fluid. This phenomenon usually occurs due to an increase in intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure is regulated by the total amount of fluid in the eye and the pressure maintained by the internal fluid leaving the eye. If the intraocular pressure remains elevated, the eye's structures can be damaged, the optic nerve can be damaged, and vision can be impaired.
 
Glaucoma can be associated with genetic factors, aging, diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid dysfunction, and eye surgeries. Also, the use of medications that increase intraocular pressure can induce glaucoma.
 
Glaucoma may be asymptomatic in the early stages, so regular eye examinations are important. If glaucoma is diagnosed, it is important to reduce intraocular pressure and prevent progression through appropriate treatment.

Medication

Most people start with medication and it is most desirable to be treated with medication. Medication is applied one or two times a day and must be applied every day. You have to keep applying it for life. However, glaucoma drugs have different side effects.
 
The most common side effects of commonly used medications include initial conjunctival hyperemia for about 3 days, eyelash lengthening, and darkening around the eyes, making them look like dark circles, with sagging eyelids and a swollen appearance.
 
Also, when using glaucoma medications containing beta-blockers, if you have arrhythmia or asthma, it can worsen your condition. You need to check your underlying medical conditions and choose the right medication.
 
It is best to control it with medication, but if you have side effects from medication, or if it does not respond to treatment, or if you are pregnant and cannot use medication, you can consider laser treatment.

Laser treatment

Laser treatment includes selective laser trabeculoplasty, which is a procedure that uses a laser to target the trabecular meshwork, which is a part of the eye that filters out fluid.
 
This aqueous humor is created and then drains out, maintaining a balance. The trabecular meshwork is the last gate that the fluid passes through before draining. If the resistance of the trabecular meshwork increases, the intraocular pressure increases, leading to glaucoma. This laser treatment lowers the resistance of the trabecular meshwork.
 
And there is a type of glaucoma called angle-closure glaucoma. In this type of glaucoma, the aqueous humor drains through the trabecular meshwork, but the path is narrowed by the iris or other structures due to pressure, which increases the intraocular pressure. In this case, the path of drainage must be opened, so peripheral iridectomy, a procedure that creates a hole in the iris, can be performed using a laser.

Surgical methods

Surgical methods are actually a last resort. If it is well controlled with medication, there is no need to resort to surgery. This is because glaucoma surgery is not a cure for glaucoma, but a procedure to lower intraocular pressure.
 
Therefore, it is best to treat it with intraocular pressure-lowering medication, but if you do not respond well to medication, or if you have severe side effects from medication, or if your intraocular pressure is too high even after stopping medication, you will have to undergo surgery.

1. Trabeculotomy

A typical surgical procedure is trabeculotomy. Simply put, it is a procedure in which a hole is made in the drainage path of the aqueous humor so that it can be drained out. This is why a blister forms above the area after surgery. This is because aqueous humor drains out under the conjunctiva like underground water, forming a blister above. It is a very risky procedure.
 
You may have low intraocular pressure, there is a risk of infection, and adhesions may develop, reducing the effectiveness of treatment. Therefore, trabeculotomy itself can cause a decrease in vision for about a week, so it is better to be treated with medication whenever possible.

2. Ahmed Valve Insertion

If you have had eye surgery or have severe conjunctival adhesions, you can also have a procedure called Ahmed valve insertion. A silicone tube is inserted into the eye, and a valve is connected to the end of the tube, which opens only when the intraocular pressure exceeds a certain level. So, when the intraocular pressure is high, the valve opens, draining the aqueous humor and lowering the intraocular pressure.

3. Microsurgical Procedures

Recently, there are many microsurgical procedures using microinstruments, such as Xen or iStent, which are the smallest surgical instruments in the world, that are inserted into the trabecular meshwork to drain the aqueous humor.

Prevention

Lifestyle is very important for glaucoma. Since the environment is a very influential factor, improving your lifestyle is an important aspect. If you usually wear a necktie or belt, do not tighten them too much. And as a common sense, smoking is not good. It is good to drink alcohol in moderation.
 
You should be careful not to spend a long time looking at a smartphone or book close up while bending your head in a dark place, as this can greatly increase intraocular pressure. And among exercises, aerobic exercise is helpful in improving glaucoma.
 
Aerobic exercise, if done for more than 20 minutes, can reduce intraocular pressure on its own. And strength training is not very helpful for glaucoma, but you should do it for your overall health. However, yoga postures or exercise equipment that involve hanging upside down is not good.
 
There have been studies showing that it increases intraocular pressure by more than twice. Therefore, those with glaucoma should avoid headstands. And for glaucoma, drinking too much coffee can increase intraocular pressure, so it is recommended to drink no more than 2 cups a day.

In Conclusion

If you are over 40 years old and have never had an eye exam, or if you have a family history of glaucoma, or if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, etc., it would be a good idea to have an eye health checkup.