Glaucoma

Home Treatment

The success of treatment for glaucoma depends on your learning about the disease, using your medications as prescribed, and getting routine checkups to monitor the condition and prevent complications. By doing so, you can decrease your chance of losing your eyesight.

• Use your glaucoma medications as prescribed by your doctor. Use colour-coded bottle caps on your medications to help you remember when to take them. If you need reminders for using your medications, use alarm clocks or watches, notes on mirrors or tables, and other cues. If you have problems using your medication according to the prescribed schedule, talk with your health professional. Some tips to decrease the side effects of glaucoma medications, such as the proper way to insert eyedrops, may help you use your medications as prescribed. If you notice side effects from your glaucoma medication, notify your health professional. Your medication may need to be changed.
• Check with a health professional before taking any non-prescription medications. If you have narrow drainage angles and are at risk for closed-angle glaucoma, your doctor may warn you about medications that widen (dilate) the pupil. When the pupil dilates, the drainage angles can become blocked, causing closed-angle glaucoma. There are some medications that you need to avoid, such as certain antihistamines and motion sickness medications. Also, tell your eye specialist what other prescription medications you are taking. Make sure all your health professionals know that you have glaucoma.
• Carry a wallet card or other identification that states that you have glaucoma. The card needs to list all medications you are taking, including glaucoma medications.

Living with reduced vision

Reduced vision from glaucoma can affect a person's life in many ways. How significantly you will be affected depends on the severity of your vision loss, what kinds of activities you do, and your lifestyle. Work with your doctor to find ways to make the best use of your remaining vision. You can use vision aids such as video enlargement systems and large-print items, develop a support network, and receive counselling and training to help you cope with reduced vision and maintain your quality of life.

Because glaucoma often leads to a significant loss of vision, learning that you have glaucoma can be difficult. You may feel anger or fear, or you may feel saddened and become depressed. These feelings are perfectly normal. If you need help in dealing with them, talk to your doctor and to your family and friends. Your doctor can also refer you to counsellors who specialize in helping people adjust to living with low vision. Because glaucoma is a lifelong disease, it may be helpful for you to join a support group for people who have the disease.

Adapting to reduced vision from glaucoma

For additional information on support groups, products, and services related to glaucoma and living with low vision, see the Other Places to Get Help section of this topic.

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Author:	Carrie Henley Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: August 31, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology
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