If you or your family member has glaucoma, do not be afraid. Please view this disease correctly and learn to "coexist peacefully" with it. As the saying goes, "a disease requires three parts treatment and seven parts care." Glaucoma is no exception. In addition to actively cooperating with doctors for treatment, self-care is also crucial for patients.
1. Maintain a good mood
Many glaucoma patients have this experience: if they are in a bad mood, their intraocular pressure will be higher. Indeed, glaucoma is a typical psychosomatic disease. Emotional fluctuations not only easily trigger acute attacks of angle-closure glaucoma and intraocular pressure fluctuations, but can also raise blood pressure and cause vasoconstriction, causing further damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma patients should maintain a positive state of mind and try to cultivate their sentiments and stabilize their emotions through activities such as playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, painting, music, opera, and traveling.
2. No restrictions on water intake
Many glaucoma patients believe that after developing glaucoma, they should drink less water and should limit their fluid intake even when thirsty. In fact, this idea is wrong! The reasons are mainly as follows: ① Many patients believe that the key problem in glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure, which is closely related to aqueous humor. Since "aqueous humor" is "water," drinking less or no water can control the intraocular pressure. ② Before the 1980s, there was a test called the "water drinking test," which involved drinking a large amount of water (1000 ml in 5 minutes) in a short period to induce an increase in intraocular pressure. In reality, the aqueous humor related to intraocular pressure is not directly sourced from water in the blood; it is actively secreted by the eye's special tissue structures. Moreover, the "water drinking test" has long been discontinued due to its unreliable results and numerous interfering factors. Thirst is a physiological signal from the body indicating a lack of water and should be replenished promptly. The optic nerve damage in some glaucoma patients is related to poor blood circulation (such as high blood viscosity), so appropriate water intake is beneficial and harmless.
3. No dietary restrictions
Glaucoma patients do not need to avoid certain foods. Their diet should be light. They should avoid high-fat and high-sugar foods and consume more foods rich in vitamins (such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, etc.). After surgery, glaucoma patients do not need to "over-supplement." This is because the surgery is minor, and the body's basic functions are not significantly compromised. Second, after surgery, an effective aqueous humor drainage pathway needs to be established, so the filtering wound should not heal too quickly. For those with a tendency to form scars, the diet should be even lighter.
4. Quit smoking and limit alcohol
Glaucoma patients must quit smoking, as smoking can worsen optic nerve damage. For glaucoma patients who drink alcohol, if your face turns red (capillary dilation) after drinking, you can have a moderate amount of red wine, preferably no more than 50 ml per day. If your face turns blue or pale (vascular constriction) after drinking, then you should not drink alcohol.
5. Pay attention to keeping warm
Every winter, the intraocular pressure of glaucoma patients is higher than in the summer. Angle-closure glaucoma also occurs more frequently in cold seasons. To prevent an attack, glaucoma patients or susceptible individuals with a family history of glaucoma should pay attention to keeping warm during the cold season.
6. Balance work and rest
Excessive fatigue can easily trigger glaucoma attacks and increase intraocular pressure. In their daily lives, glaucoma patients should balance work and rest and avoid prolonged continuous use of their eyes. After continuous reading, working on the computer, or writing for one hour, they should rest for 5 to 10 minutes to let their eyes relax. Additionally, as long as it is safe, engaging in moderate aerobic exercise (such as slow jogging, doing exercises, etc.) can also help lower intraocular pressure.
Expert reminder: Be cautious with sunglasses. In dark environments, the pupil dilates, which can easily trigger an angle-closure glaucoma attack. Therefore, patients with angle-closure glaucoma should be cautious when wearing sunglasses and should not stay in dark environments for extended periods.