begin to fail. Objects straight ahead of you may be clear, but you may not see objects to the side. Over time, with untreated glaucoma, you may not be able to see objects straight ahead.
How is glaucoma detected? A dilated eye exam is the only way to determine if you have glaucoma. A basic eye exam for glasses or contacts won’t detect glaucoma. Neither will a test that just measures eye pressure. During the dilated eye exam, drops are put into the eyes to enlarge the pupils. This allows your doctor to clearly see the inside of your eye to check for signs of damage to the optic nerve.
How is glaucoma treated? Glaucoma cannot be cured, but treatment can help control the pressure in your eye and delay further damage to the optic nerve. Typically, treatment begins with medications—such as eye drops or pills and if needed, laser surgery. Traditional surgery is usually reserved for people whose eye pressure cannot be controlled with medication or laser surgery.
How can I protect my vision? Early detection and treatment are the best ways to control glaucoma before it causes permanent vision loss. Everyone with diabetes should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. You can reduce your risk of glaucoma by controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol.
If you already have glaucoma, controlling blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol will slow down the progression of the disease. Also, if you already have glaucoma, you may need to have an eye exam more often.
Healthcare Coverage. If you have diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, are an African American over the age of 50 or a Hispanic age 65 or older Medicare can help you pay for a dilated eye exam. For more information on this Medicare benefit, visit www.nei.nih.gov/Medicare.
Constance Brown-Riggs, is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, national speaker and author of the Diabetes Guide to Enjoying Foods of the World, a convenient guide to help people with diabetes enjoy all the flavors of the world while still following a healthy meal plan. Follow Constance on social media @eatingsoulfully