In addition to Cervical Cancer Awareness, January also brings National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is an eye disease that has been affecting many Americans. It could lead to blindness if not detected early. However, the group that has become one of the most at-risk are women over the age of 40. In this week’s post, we’ll learn about why women in this age group are at risk, glaucoma prevention tips that women must start following, and when should you seek help from a specialist immediately.
What You Should Understand about Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that could damage the optic nerve. When a person is diagnosed with glaucoma, their peripheral vision starts to deteriorate. The damage to the optic nerve could even lead to possible blindness. This damage is usually related to high pressure in the eye. While glaucoma could happen at any age, it is more common in older adults over the age of 60. The various types of glaucoma are open-angle glaucoma, acute angle-closure glaucoma, and normal-tension glaucoma.
However, research shows that women over 40 happen to be at risk for it due to hormonal changes, genetics, and other factors. The results of a 2024 review show that glaucoma is more common amongst post-menopausal women than pre-menopausal. When women are pregnant, that can induce changes in intraocular pressure, leading the condition to be heavily monitored before, during, and after pregnancy.
4 Prevention Tips for Women Over 40
If this eye disease is detected early, that could lead to vision loss being either slowed or completely prevented. While ophthalmologists have yet to figure out how to stop glaucoma from developing in the first place, there are some ways to prevent serious vision loss from gradually occurring. Here are just four of the best tips you must not take for granted when it comes to lowering your risk of glaucoma.
Regular Eye Check-Ups is Always Important
Just like regular eye check-ups are vital for an eye condition such as diabetes retinopathy, it’s just as important in lowering your risk of glaucoma. After the age of 35, women should be tested for glaucoma every year or two. You should especially get tested more frequently if you have a family history of glaucoma. Regular eye check-ups are the best form of prevention.
Protecting Your Eyes From the Sun
When you go out and expose your eyes to the sun, you must wear sunglasses or another form of protective eyewear. If you’re engaging in some form of sports or home improvement projects, wearing eyewear will protect you from glaucoma risk. You could injure your eyes, which could lead to glaucoma while doing these activities.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
What you eat and put in your body makes a big impact on your eyes. Eat foods such as leafy greens and colored fruits, which contain plenty of vitamins and minerals to protect your eyes. Eye-healthy foods such as carrots could be better than vitamins at preventing glaucoma. Also, getting plenty of exercise is beneficial for your vision health.
Manage Stress the Right Way
The way you manage stress each day could have a bearing on your eyesight. Take some time to relax and get plenty of rest. Always being consumed with your cell phone device could have a negative impact on your vision. Lowering your stress levels is not only beneficial for your heart and blood pressure, but your eyesight as well.
When Should You Seek Help from a Specialist
If you become diagnosed with glaucoma in its early stages, it’s vital to see a specialist such as an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. They could be able to prescribe the right treatments such as medications, eye surgery, laser surgery, etc. Having symptoms that come all suddenly could mean that you may have a type of glaucoma called acute angle-closure glaucoma. If you’ve been experiencing bad headaches and severe eye pain, don’t hesitate to call an eye doctor or go to an emergency room immediately.
While glaucoma could affect anyone at any age, women over the age of 40 are the most at risk due to hormonal changes and other factors. That’s why it’s more important than ever for us to get a regular eye exam, protect our eyes from the sun, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and manage stress well to lower our risk of glaucoma. Follow these prevention tips for better eye care today.
If you’re over the age of 40, how are you lowering your risk of glaucoma? Share your glaucoma prevention tips for women in the comments section below. As always, be sure to like or share this post with the next woman who also cares about her eyesight.
