How to Save Your Sight if You Have Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a serious eye disease and if not taken care of properly, it can cause blindness. Glaucoma causes too much pressure in one or both eyes. The best way from preventing the pressure from getting worse is to take medication.
Eye pressure can be lowered by taking eye drops. This can be prescribed by a doctor, preferably an ophthalmologist.
Laser procedures and surgery has also been used to lower eye pressure. Most people use medication, such as eye drops to lower the pressure. This will prevent the disease from getting worse, which eventually can cause blindness.
Unfortunately, some people do not realize the importance of taking medication when they are told they have glaucoma. They cannot believe that this disease can lead to blindness, and consequently they become negligent about taking this medication. They may take it once in awhile, not realizing that this is something to think about on a daily basis.
Many patients forget to take their drops when their usual everyday living schedule has changed. This can happen, for example, when they are on a trip.
The popular medication for reducing pressure is by using eye drops. On the down side, many older patients have difficulty putting drops in their eyes due to unsteady hands. Those who have arthritis, for example, sometimes have difficulty putting drops in their eyes due to the fact that their hands are not stable. In such cases, unless they can have someone put the drops in their eyes for them, they give up. They forget about doing it for that day, hoping they can do it the following day. These people do not realize that medication should be taken every day. In some cases, twice a day. They cannot believe the reality that glaucoma can lead to blindness if they do not follow directions and do not make visits to their doctor when required.
The good news is that if a person has difficulty putting drops in their eyes, or cannot get someone to put it in for them, there are devices that have been developed that can help putting drops in one’s eyes.
There are people who cannot afford the medication needed for glaucoma. If this is the case, a patient can ask for lower cost medications. As stated by David Friedman, MD, Guest Medical Editor of Gleams Publication, Some glaucoma medications are coming down in price as patents expire and more generics become available.
Financial assistance is available to qualified patients through programs such as Eye Care America. A call can be made at 1-800-391-EYES
For a complete list online, visit www.glaucoma.org/living/financial_assis.php
Source: Do it Right to Preserve Your Sight by David Friedman, MD, Guest Medical Editor of the publication Gleams, Glaucoma, Research Foundation, January 2010