Most people with glaucoma don’t realize that they’ve got an eye disease until the disease progresses. Regular eye exams help aging adults stay on top of their eye health, including illnesses like glaucoma, so they can start treatments as early as possible. Home care assistance can be a huge help for seniors as they manage all sorts of health conditions.
Understanding Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that can occur at any age, but seniors are more likely to find out that they have it. If seniors have a family history of glaucoma or other risk factors, like diabetes, they may ned to screen for glaucoma earlier than they expect. Many people don’t recognize the symptoms of glaucoma because they’re very subtle until vision loss starts to be more obvious. Pressure that builds in the eye due to glaucoma damages the optic nerve, leading to increased vision loss and even total blindness.
Risk Factors for Glaucoma
The pressure that builds up in the eye because of glaucoma occurs because of fluid that isn’t able to drain properly from the eye. As seniors get older, the drainage tunnels that support eye health are more likely to become clogged or narrower. Family history is a big risk factor for developing glaucoma, as is a history of smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes. For seniors who are at higher risk of developing glaucoma, they should get tested regularly. This means scheduling yearly eye exams and making sure eye doctors are aware of those risk factors.
Can Seniors Feel Glaucoma?
While most people hear about increased eye pressure when they hear about glaucoma, that pressure isn’t always something that seniors feel. They can experience eye pain, along with other symptoms like watering eyes, nausea, and headache, but that doesn’t occur for everyone. This is why screening tests are so important and why seniors shouldn’t skip eye exams. If they don’t drive any longer, home care providers can help with transportation needs, making sure that seniors continue to go to important appointments as needed.
Vision Changes with Glaucoma
For some people with glaucoma, vision loss is extremely rapid, but this is rare. Most forms of glaucoma cause slow vision loss over a period of years. Seniors might start to experience small blind spots, particularly in their peripheral vision. They may also experience blurry vision or halos around lights. As glaucoma progresses, seniors may start to notice that their field of vision narrows, which is often described as tunnel vision.
Living with Glaucoma
Glaucoma can be managed with medication and some surgical procedures that can reduce pressure in the eyes, particularly in the earlier stages of the disease. Early diagnosis helps to make these treatments more effective in the long run. Seniors may find that it’s more difficult to do some of the things they love, like reading or engaging in activities that require them to see well. Having help from home care assistance can help seniors with glaucoma to feel safer at home, particularly if they’ve experienced significant vision loss because of the illness. Managing pain and learning to work around vision changes are the main challenges seniors are likely to face.
As with any condition that affects vision, glaucoma can be a scary diagnosis for seniors to receive. What’s important is that they have the support they need from home care assistance and family members to keep living as independently and comfortably as possible.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care assistance in Exeter, NH, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands Home Care – Seacoast NH today! 603-824-8200
Assisting Hands Home Care – Seacoast NH provides exceptional home care in Portsmouth, Rye, New Castle, North Hampton, Hampton, Stratham, Exeter, Durham, Dover, Seabrook, Greenland, Rochester, Hampton Falls and surrounding areas.
