Glaucoma, often called the ‘silent thief of the vision,’ is a group of eye conditions that may damage your optic nerve and negatively impact vision. This condition may affect people of all ages and, if left without treatment, can lead to irreversible vision loss.
Since it is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, many people seek answers to whether they can prevent Glaucoma and overcome blindness. While the answer depends on which type of Glaucoma affects you and how severe the condition is, some ways can delay its progression.
This article discusses the important question of ‘how to prevent Glaucoma’ and strategies for reducing its progression into irreversible blindness. So, let’s delve into the topic and uncover all the strategies one by one to ensure the safety of your eyesight.
Can you prevent Glaucoma?
Before deciding whether you can prevent Glaucoma, let’s briefly understand what it is and its causes. Glaucoma is an ocular or eye disease which, if left untreated, can damage the optic nerve and lead to blindness. It is a multifactorial disease, which means there are various external and hereditary factors of Glaucoma.
While high eye pressure, family history, or injury may develop the eye condition, some ongoing health conditions, such as Diabetes, poor circulation, or Migraine, may also elevate your risks of developing it.
Can you completely prevent Glaucoma? No, you cannot. However, this doesn’t mean you cannot delay its progression or prevent permanent vision loss. Most types of Glaucoma have one thing in common—high eye pressure or intraocular pressure (IOP).
Although your IOP fluctuates over time, a consistent rise can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. So if we can reduce this high eye pressure, the condition’s progression can be prevented.
How to prevent Glaucoma?
While you may not be able to prevent Glaucoma, you can delay its progression. Here are the proven ways to prevent the progression of all types of Glaucoma:
1. Catch Glaucoma with an early diagnosis
Early detection of the condition is necessary for seeking prompt treatment. You can test Glaucoma with regular eye check-ups. According to research, you should get a comprehensive eye examination in the following duration, even if you have no Glaucoma symptoms:
Your age | Duration of eye examination |
---|---|
Under 40 years | Every 2 to 4 years |
Between 40 and 54 years | Between 1 and 3 years |
Above 54 and below 64 years | Every 1 to 2 years |
Above 65 years | Every 6 to 12 months |
Furthermore, consider getting regular eye check-ups if you have a family history of Glaucoma. After a complete examination, your doctor will prescribe you proven Glaucoma eye drops, such as Careprost, to reduce high eye pressure.
2. Stick to your prescription medication
The best way to overcome this eye condition is to receive Glaucoma treatment and adhere to the prescribed medication. Your doctor knows your condition well and can prescribe the best treatment for a faster recovery.
You must take proven Glaucoma eye drops like Lashgrow and Careprost. These eye drops are proven to treat Glaucoma and reduce the risks of vision loss. Consult your doctor and take these prescribed eye drops for healthy vision.
3. Avoid eye injuries
When your eyes are injured, the tissue damage can increase eye pressure, leading to Traumatic Glaucoma. Therefore, it is necessary to protect your eyes from such injuries.
Always wear eyewear to protect your eyes from injuries while playing or working. You can also wear protective sunglasses to protect your eyes from sunlight and even pollutants, which may irritate them.
4. Watch your caffeine
If you drink multiple cups of coffee daily, you may be at a higher risk of developing Glaucoma than a person who consumes less coffee daily. Caffeine consumption leads to eye pressure elevation in both people with existing Glaucoma and healthy people.
If you consume various caffeinated products in one to four hours, your eye pressure rises to 0 to 4mmHg. Therefore, it is best to limit caffeine intake to prevent Glaucoma.
5. Manage stress
Stress does not directly cause Glaucoma—however, your eye pressure changes when you are stressed, either briefly or regularly.
It happens because stress releases hormones such as Cortisol and Adrenaline. Over long periods, the high levels of these hormones can lead to high eye pressure, which, if left untreated, can damage the optic nerve.
6. Avoid rubbing your eyes

Rubbing your eyes may feel soothing and comforting in the short term. However, it can cause eye pressure changes and lead to Glaucoma.
A 2020 study on animals observed that eye rubbing can cause acute eye pressure elevation up to 310 mmHg above baseline. Furthermore, chronic eye rubbing can lead to Glaucoma and Keratoconus-like eye conditions.
7. Keep your blood pressure under control
High blood pressure can increase the ciliary blood flow and capillary pressure, which increases aqueous humor production. It also decreases the outflow of aqueous humor due to increased venous pressure.
In contrast, low blood pressure can also threaten your vision. It reduces the Ocular Perfusion Pressure (OPP), the pressure at which blood enters your eyes, causing damage to the optic nerve. Therefore, high and low blood pressure may affect your vision and lead to Glaucoma development.
Therefore, it is advised to maintain your blood pressure to prevent or treat Glaucoma and protect your eyes.
8. Keep your blood sugar levels in check
Glaucoma and Diabetes affect millions of people worldwide. People with Diabetes are two times more likely to develop Glaucoma than people without it. Furthermore, people with Diabetes have 36% more chances of developing Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG).
High blood sugar levels in people with Diabetic Retinopathy can cause abnormal blood vessel growth. Furthermore, Diabetes can elevate Fibronectin levels, further blocking the drainage angle. You should always maintain your blood sugar levels to prevent severe consequences.
9. Sip your fluids carefully
While it may seem surprising, consuming water quickly also elevates eye pressure. Compared to people who don’t have glaucoma, people with Glaucoma who drink a quart of water within 20 minutes experience high eye pressure.
Therefore, it is recommended to sip your fluids carefully to reduce the sudden rise in IOP. In contrast, dehydration can also harm your eye health and fluctuate IOP, damaging the optic nerve and affecting your visual field.
10. Stop smoking and alcohol
Smokers have a higher risk of developing Glaucoma. According to a study, people who smoke are 88% more likely to develop Glaucoma than people who never smoked.
Similarly, people with OAG, when stopped alcohol intake, were found to be at a lower risk of disease progression and, ultimately, blindness.
11. Practice caution with contact lenses
People with Glaucoma can wear contact lenses without any problem. However, they should take precautions so that the lenses do not interfere with their Glaucoma medication or worsen their vision.
You should always use the prescribed contact lenses, adhere to good lens hygiene, and remove them before sleeping. These precautions are crucial to safely using contact lenses if you have Glaucoma and to prevent its progression.
12. Keep your teeth clean
While it may seem unrealistic, poor oral health may also increase one’s risk of developing Glaucoma. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease in which the gums become damaged, and the structure of the teeth cannot be supported.
As an infection, it can aggravate your body’s inflammatory response. It may trigger inflammation in your eyes, elevating the risks of developing Glaucoma. However, you can prevent this with oral hygiene, such as regularly brushing and flossing.
13. Eat a healthy diet
One of the best answers to ‘how to prevent Glaucoma’ lies in your diet. If you want to treat Glaucoma naturally, you should follow a healthy diet that includes the following:
- Fruits and vegetables: These are good sources of vitamins A and C and antioxidants, which are recognized to protect the eyes and reduce the risks of optic nerve damage. Furthermore, people who eat three or more fruits or juices are 79% less likely to develop this eye condition
- Nuts: Nuts are rich in Vitamin E, which is crucial to protect cells from free radical damage. You can obtain them from almonds, sunflower seeds, and pistachios
- Leafy green veggies: Green leafy veggies are a rich source of nitrates, reducing Glaucoma development by 20 to 30 percent. Kale and spinach are good sources
- Omega-3 Fatty Acid: You can obtain Omega-3 Fatty Acid from fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines. Fish oil is beneficial for people with Glaucoma. It is associated with reducing Glaucoma-related eye pressure
14. Keep your head up
Head-down positions can significantly impact your eye pressure. If you have Glaucoma, you should not keep your head below your heart position. Always maintain a good posture or position while lying down or sitting.
You should also avoid yoga positions, including lowering your head for longer. For more information, you should consult your doctor or therapist to reduce the risks of mistakenly elevating eye pressure.
15. Watch while you sleep
Intraocular pressure usually elevates when you sleep. Many researchers also believe that poor sleep, disorders, disturbances, or daytime drowsiness can be contributing factors to increased risk of Glaucoma.
Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) may increase blood pressure, which can also cause Glaucoma. You can prevent this by improving your sleep position, such as sleeping upright and having adequate sleep.
16. Practice safe exercise
Exercise is considered beneficial for overall health. However, this is not true for eye health. Some anaerobic exercises and straining can have opposite effects, elevating eye pressure.
If you have Glaucoma, you should avoid doing sit-ups, sprinting like swimming and running, squats, and weightlifting. In contrast, you can do a brisk walk, jogging, and some yoga to reduce the IOP.
17. Seek medical treatment
Lastly, routine eye examinations and seeking Glaucoma treatment are crucial to prevent the condition’s progression and protect your vision. You should consult your doctor if you experience any Glaucoma symptoms, such as vision changes, blurry vision, eye redness, or pain.
Your doctor can prescribe you Glaucoma eye drops, such as Actavis Bimatoprost, or pills to lower eye pressure. If these eye drops cannot reduce your significant IOP, your doctor may recommend laser therapy or surgery for faster recovery.
Conclusion
Glaucoma is one of the significant causes of vision loss worldwide. However, you can prevent the progression of the disease and reduce the risks of vision loss. So, if you are wondering how to prevent Glaucoma, the best way is to get an early diagnosis and seek treatment.
To reduce the severity of glaucoma, you can also eat a healthy diet, control your blood sugar and blood pressure, manage stress, limit alcohol, stop smoking, and maintain good oral hygiene. Furthermore, sip water slowly, reduce caffeine intake, prevent eye rubbing, and practice safe exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can Glaucoma be prevented naturally?
A healthy diet can naturally prevent Glaucoma. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts, Nitrate-Rich green leafy veggies, and foods with sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. You should also maintain blood pressure and blood sugar levels and practice stress management. Also, seek medical treatment for a faster recovery.
What foods to prevent Glaucoma?
Foods that can reduce high eye pressure and prevent Glaucoma include fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins A and C and antioxidants. You can also eat leafy greens, such as kale and spinach, which are rich in nitrates. Furthermore, eat nuts and fish rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
What exercises prevent Glaucoma?
To prevent Glaucoma, take a brisk walk, jog, and do some yoga postures. However, you should avoid straining and anaerobic exercises, such as weightlifting, sit-ups, and sprinting. These exercises can elevate your eye pressure and lead to severe consequences.
What vitamins prevent Glaucoma?
Vitamins A, C, and E are crucial to prevent the progression of Glaucoma. You can obtain vitamins A and C from fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, they contain antioxidants that protect your eyes and prevent vision loss. Furthermore, eat nuts, such as sunflower seeds, almonds, and pistachios, to obtain vitamin E.
Can you prevent blindness from Glaucoma?
Yes, you can prevent blindness from Glaucoma by early detection and seeking medical treatment. With effective strategies and medications, you can delay the progression of Glaucoma and prevent permanent vision loss.
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