How to Prevent Glaucoma

With glaucoma affecting well over 2 million Americans, is there anything you can do to help lower your risk? The answer is a resounding yes! From lifestyle changes to having regular eye examinations, we should all be taking a bunch of easy steps to help reduce the chance that we end up with this potentially vision-threatening disease.

Read on to see how implementing a few simple elements into everyday life can dramatically reduce your risk.

Preventing Glaucoma in 5 Easy Steps

• How to prevent glaucoma: step 1
• How to prevent glaucoma: step 2
• How to prevent glaucoma: step 3
• How to prevent glaucoma: step 4
• How to prevent glaucoma: step 5

How to prevent glaucoma: step 1

Step 1 is all about nutrition. While there’s nothing wrong with the odd over-indulgence, your overall diet should include a healthy mix of protein, carbs, and fats. This ensures that you provide your body with all the essential vitamins, minerals, and other elements it needs for healthy cell production.

Eating a wide variety of foods is the best way to do this. Be sure to include the following eye-friendly foods in your diet:

• Vegetables
• Leafy greens
• Berries
• Seeds and pulses
• Good protein options, such as fish, chicken, eggs, etc.

Nutrition choices can be complicated. One of the easiest rules to remember is this: 

“Eat foods that are as close to their original form as possible”, rather than processed meals and products.

How to prevent glaucoma: step 2

Step 2 surrounds exercise and lifestyle choices. Don’t worry, there’s no need to sell your soul to the gym or deny yourself all the things you love. All you need to do is add a little activity to your daily routine. Perhaps walk to the shops instead of driving, take the dog for a slightly longer walk, play running games with the kids or grandkids… You get the picture.

You should also keep alcohol consumption within normal limits and give up (or don’t start) smoking. This includes vaping. Even though this is, of course, better than smoking tobacco, ongoing studies are returning compelling evidence that vapes/e-cigarettes also might have harmful effects at a cellular level.

How to prevent glaucoma: step 3

Control any medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Be sure to comply with any medications that you’ve been given and follow the lifestyle instructions as per your physician’s instructions.

How to prevent glaucoma: step 4

Protect your eyes. This means investing in a good pair of UV-blocking sunglasses and wearing them whenever you go out. If you need lenses for vision correction, then be sure to get a pair of prescription sunglasses alongside your regular ones. You should also invest in a hat with a brim that shades the eyes.

How to prevent glaucoma: step 5

Pay attention to your dental health. There’s a direct link between poor oral hygiene and glaucoma. Gum disease can worsen any optic nerve damage, so be sure to clean your teeth twice a day, floss effectively, and keep regular dental appointments.

From Early Diagnosis to Cutting-Edge Treatment: Contact the West Boca Eye Center Today

Partnering with the best eye doctor is key to helping prevent glaucoma. As experts in treating the disease, we provide all our patients with the ultimate strategy for reducing your risk—and it really isn’t as difficult as you might think.

Glaucoma is only one of a range of fairly common eye diseases that affect a significantly large proportion of the American population. With careful lifestyle choices and regular eye examinations, we’re the perfect partner for the best possible vision throughout your life—no matter what stage your eyesight might be right now.

Head to https://westbocaeyecenter.com/services/glaucoma-dropless-therapy/ for more glaucoma treatment information and call us today to book an appointment.

Glaucoma is only one of a range of fairly common eye diseases that affect a significantly large proportion of the American population.

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