When it comes to glaucoma, many people associate it with cataracts, and think that glaucoma is also a disease of the elderly. In fact, it is not the case. From the newborn baby to the elderly, it is possible to suffer from glaucoma. Glaucoma, like cataracts, can cause vision loss, blurred vision, and even blindness.

However, cataract patients can “see again” after surgery, and the visual function caused by glaucoma The obstacle is “irreversible”, and glaucoma has a strong concealment. Unlike cataract patients, eye lesions and progress can be clearly seen. Most glaucoma patients develop irreversible visual dysfunction. When you find out that you are sick, you are already “powerless”, so the blindness rate of glaucoma is quite high.

After seeing the “powerful” glaucoma, many patients are eager to know how to delay blindness and what to pay attention to in daily life, so as to minimize the damage of visual function. It is the purpose of this article to answer such questions of patients.

How to delay blinding

delay The core of blindness lies in early diagnosis and early treatment.

1. Early diagnosis: Since most glaucoma patients are very insidious and cannot be diagnosed in time based on symptoms, it is recommended that you go to regular hospitals for ophthalmology-related examinations to facilitate timely diagnosis Eye lesions were found.

Note: People with a family history of glaucoma (with glaucoma in an immediate family member), over 50 years of age, high myopia (greater than 600°), a history of diabetes, and a history of hypertension are more likely to develop glaucoma, so this People in this category should pay attention and conduct regular inspections more actively.

2. Early treatment: After the diagnosis of glaucoma, regardless of whether there is visual impairment, active treatment should be given. Some patients were found to have glaucoma during the physical examination, but they thought that they had no symptoms such as eye pain and vision loss, so it was not serious and did not need treatment.

But this perception is wrong. Except for a few patients with acute onset glaucoma who will experience sudden eye pain, decreased vision and even nausea, vomiting and other symptoms, the disease progresses very slowly in most patients. , The damage to the optic nerve will gradually accumulate. When symptoms appear, it means that the damage is already very serious, and this kind of damage is irreversible. At this time, treatment can only delay further development and cannot restore the lost visual function.

For patients undergoing additional treatment, even if the intraocular pressure has returned to normal during the reexamination of the drug, the drug cannot be stopped, because glaucoma, like hypertension, diabetes and other diseases, is a chronic disease and requires long-term drug treatment.

Daily Considerations for Patients

1. Diet: The diet should be light, avoid overeating, eat more fruits and vegetables, keep the stool smooth, do not drink strong tea or coffee, and do not drink too much water at one time (not more than 300ml), Avoid drinking too much water, which can lead to increased intraocular pressure;

2. Living and resting: Life should be regular, go to bed early and get up early, and exercise moderately (note that patients with glaucoma should not do strenuous exercise, such as fast Running, weightlifting, diving, etc.), maintain a healthy body, and avoid colds and colds, so as not to induce or aggravate glaucoma;

3. Regulate emotions and stress: Sudden emotional excitement or excessive stress Largeness is also one of the risk factors for glaucoma. It is recommended that patients maintain a peaceful, happy and relaxed mood in daily life, regulate stress, and avoid induction;

4. Correct eye use:Patients with glaucoma should protect their eyes. Usually, reading time should not be too long. You can put down the book every 15-20 minutes, take a look at the distant scenery or close your eyes to rest for a while, and reduce the time you spend looking at mobile phones or computer screens.

5. Regular re-examination: The re-examination items for glaucoma patients include intraocular pressure, fundus and visual field examination. Both treatment and control of the progression of the disease are beneficial.

[References]

[1] Liu Jiaqi, Li Fengming, Wu Jingan, et al. Practical Ophthalmology [J]. People’s Health Publishing House, 2010.

[2]Dai Weijia. Glaucoma: The irreversible killer of blindness[J]. Xintiandi, 2016(5):2.