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4 Reasons Your Eyes Always Feel Dry and Gritty
If your eyes constantly feel itchy, irritated, or like there’s something stuck in them, you’re not imagining it. Many conditions can make your eyes feel dry and gritty. Read on to learn four.
Can You Slow the Progression of Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is known as the “silent thief of sight” because it can develop gradually and without noticeable symptoms at first. It’s the second-leading cause of blindness, behind cataracts.
That means the best thing you can do is get your eyes checked regularly, even if you feel your vision is perfectly fine. The experts at Maryland Eye Care Center in Hyattsville and Silver Spring, Maryland, are here to help you reduce your risk of glaucoma-related blindness.
Read on as we discuss how to slow the progression of glaucoma.
What causes glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that typically involves damage to the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. You can’t undo damage to the optic nerve.
In many cases, damage stems from increased intraocular pressure (IOP), though glaucoma can also occur with normal pressure levels. Without treatment, this damage can lead to gradual vision loss; vision lost this way can’t be restored.
How to slow glaucoma progression
If you’re diagnosed with glaucoma, these strategies can help protect your optic nerve.
1. Don’t skip your eye drops
Eye drops are often the first (and arguably the most important) line of defense.
They help lower your eye pressure by reducing fluid production or improving drainage. Regardless of which type of eye drops we prescribe, they only work if you use them consistently.
Even occasional missed doses can allow pressure to rise and increase the risk of further damage to your optic nerve.
2. Keep up with regular eye exams
Glaucoma is anything but a “set it and forget it” condition. Your provider at Maryland Eye Care Center needs to monitor your:
- Eye pressure
- Optic nerve health
- Peripheral (side) vision
These visits help our care team catch small changes early before they affect your vision.
3. Know when it’s time to escalate treatment
If drops aren’t enough, additional options are available. These may include laser treatments or minimally invasive procedures that can improve fluid drainage and lower eye pressure more effectively.
Our team may recommend surgery, such as laser trabeculoplasty or trabeculectomy.
4. Manage your overall health
Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and poor circulation can affect your eyes. So, it makes sense that managing conditions such as these can support optic nerve health and complement your glaucoma treatment.
5. Stay proactive about your risk
Some people are more likely to develop glaucoma, including those with a family history or those over age 60. Knowing your risk means you can stay ahead of the condition with earlier and more frequent screening.
Concerned about your eyes? Schedule an exam
The thought of glaucoma can be scary, but we can easily and quickly check the pressure in your eye during a comprehensive eye exam. Schedule an appointment by phone or online today.
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