Every January, the nation learns more about glaucoma, an eye disease that affects many older adults. Glaucoma Awareness Month is impacting your family personally this year as your dad’s eye doctor informed him he has glaucoma and to expect it to impact his mobility. Why is this?
What Is Glaucoma?
To better understand why glaucoma affects your dad’s mobility, it’s important to look at what the disease is. The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma, and 90% of glaucoma cases are this type.
Typically, the fluid (aqueous humor) in your eye drains as the eye replenishes older fluid with new fluid. Sometimes, the canals where the fluid drains out start to narrow and make it harder for that fluid to exit. As the fluid builds up, it puts pressure on the optic nerve.
This pressure will cause the fibers in the optic nerve to die. This creates blind spots. Often, glaucoma starts with the peripheral vision first. There is no cure for glaucoma, but treatments can slow progression.
Glaucoma often doesn’t have noticeable symptoms. The most common ones – headaches, nausea, vomiting, eye redness, and blurred vision – are easily ignored as being other issues, or in the case of blurry vision, may be overlooked, especially if your dad’s vision was already blurry without glasses.
Glaucoma Can Lead to Blindness
If glaucoma isn’t treated, it can lead to blindness over time. This can impact your dad’s mobility in many ways. First, he’s not going to be able to clearly see items on the floor or in his walking path. He can end up stubbing his toe, tripping, and falling. Falls can be severe and lead to head injuries and bone fractures.
Your dad may have a hard time with depth perception. He can’t see where a step starts and ends, again increasing his risk of a fall. He might have a hard time stepping onto a curb or stepping over the edge of a tub. He’s going to need help when he’s walking around or getting in and out of the shower.
Nausea and vomiting are possible with glaucoma. While these do not impact mobility directly, they can make him less likely to want to move around, especially if there is no bathroom nearby. He may refuse to leave his home for walks, appointments, or rides in a car. He needs support.
Arrange Senior Home Care Aides to Assist Him
If your dad’s vision is diminishing, it’s important to schedule senior home care services. He shouldn’t be alone all day, every day. Home care aides can help him get to his appointments, run errands, keep his home clean, and cook meals for him.
Call a senior care specialist and ask about these companion care and personal care services that benefit your dad. Glaucoma may impact his vision, but it doesn’t have to isolate him.
Sources:
https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma/types-glaucoma
If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Red Lodge, MT, call the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Billings today. 406-839-2390
