Glaucoma is one of the more common eye diseases. It’s also one that people often don’t understand. It’s a leading cause of blindness after the age of 60. It’s also not curable, but it can be slowed some of the time if it’s caught early.
There are several risk factors for glaucoma. If you know the risks, you can make sure your parents go for regular eye exams. Elderly care providers can ensure that your parent has transportation to and from the eye doctor.
Risk Factors for Glaucoma
What are the risk factors for glaucoma? If your parents have high blood pressure, that’s one of the biggest risk factors for glaucoma. They need to monitor their blood pressure, do what their doctor tells them, and let their eye doctor know if there is a history of high blood pressure.
A family history increases the risk of glaucoma. If there are medical issues like diabetes, heart disease, or sickle cell anemia, they’re also risk factors.
Some of the other risks include corneas that are thin, having extreme near or farsightedness. Eye injuries or past eye surgeries can raise the risk. Corticosteroid eye drops and other medications also increase the risk.
Ask for Dilated Eye Exams
When your parents go for an eye exam, they need to push for dilated eye exams. They should get this type of exam every year or two after the age of 65. If there is a family history, yearly exams are better.
If glaucoma is diagnosed early, medicated eye drops are one possible treatment. Management of high blood pressure through diet, exercise, and blood pressure medications is also often advised. Your doctor will need to work with you and your eye doctor.
Know the Symptoms
There are three main types of glaucoma.
- Acute-angle is less common and occurs when the iris expands and pushes the drainage angle between the cornea and iris.
- Open-angle is most common and occurs when the drain becomes blocked and causes the eye pressure to harm the optic nerve.
- There’s also Normal-tension where the eye pressure is normal yet the damage occurs anyway.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma’s symptoms are a severe headache, blurred vision, halos, and eye pain. Open-angle glaucoma’s symptoms are tunnel vision and blind spots in the central and peripheral vision.
Be aware of the symptoms. If your mom or dad experience any of them, do not wait. Make an appointment with an eye doctor. If you can’t provide transportation to eye exams, elderly care aides can help.
You’ll also want elderly care aides to help if your parent’s vision is impacted. Caregivers can help with meals, cleaning, laundry, and personal care.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering elderly care in Denver, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare today. Call us at (303) 756-9322.
