Can i prevent glaucoma

Yvonne Ou, MD. Full Bio. Help find a cure. Donate Now. Stay in touch. Receive Glaucoma research updates and inspiring stories. First Name. Last Name. Protect your eyes from injury. Eye injuries can lead to glaucoma. Always wear protective eyewear during sports or while working on your home and in your yard. Avoid head-down positions. That includes staying away from inversion tables or gravity boots for back pain. Head-down positions can greatly raise your eye pressure. Some people with severe glaucoma may need to avoid certain yoga positions.

Ask your doctor if you need to avoid a head-down position in your exercise routine. Sleep in the right position. If you have glaucoma, avoid sleeping with your eye against the pillow or on your arm. People who have obstructive sleep apnea OSA are at risk of glaucoma, or may have more serious disease. If you snore heavily or stop breathing throughout the night, get tested for OSA. Protect your eyes from sunlight. That means protecting your eyes during home improvement projects, sports, or any other activity that could cause eye trauma.

For more information about glaucoma screening and to make an appointment, contact the UPMC Eye Center at We offer a variety of services at our locations throughout western Pennsylvania.

We diagnose and treat a wide range of vision disorders in both children and adults. We also offer routine eye screenings and have full-scale optical shops.

Our treatments include both surgical and nonsurgical options. Share this on: As you get older, you may begin to worry about your eye health. Avoid exercising to exhaustion and certain types of exercises, particularly inversion postures in yoga. Postures such as balancing on your head stress the auto regulatory systems, making it hard for the eyes to handle as blood rushes to your head. If you have a family history, your risk of developing glaucoma is increased by at least three-fold.

In conjunction with folks around the world, Mass. Eye and Ear researchers are discovering that many genes lead to glaucoma. Research is revealing that carrying more of these associated genes translates to developing the disease at an earlier point in time. Bottom line: Find out if glaucoma runs in your family, and if it does, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years.

Patients with a very high Body Mass Index BMI have higher pressure in their eyes, and those with a really low BMI are at risk for primary angle glaucoma , as pressure around the brain is low and pushes the optic nerve inward. Bottom line: The key here is to have a healthy body weight right in the middle of the spectrum.

Those who are at extremes are often there for genetic reasons, and it can be hard to alter your weight. If you have an issue maintaining a healthy body weight, start by talking to your primary care physician. At the end of the day, there are a variety of factors that contribute to our glaucoma risk. These 7 habits may lower your risk of developing glaucoma, and they will certainly improve your overall health. Pasquale is now Site Chair of Ophthalmology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. For glaucoma care at Mass.

Eye and Ear, please call or request an appointment online. Search the Mass. Eye and Ear physician directory to find the right ophthalmology eye or otolaryngology ear, nose and throat specialist. Margaret Schatkin 4 years, 7 months ago.