In-Home Care Advice: Senior Vision Loss Facts for National Glaucoma Awareness Month

Senior In-Home Care  |  January 28, 2018

What Every Senior and Family in Vancouver, BC Needs to Know About Glaucoma

Glaucoma is painless, yet it is a serious disease often found in seniors and is a leading cause of blindness. The disease can damage the optic nerve, which enables vision by connecting your brain to your eye. Find out what in-home care specialists have to say about the risk factors, symptoms, causes, and treatments for glaucoma.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

The high pressure of the eye is the leading risk factor for developing glaucoma. Previous eye issues such as injury, age-related problems, nearsightedness, or thin corneas are risk factors. Those with a family history of glaucoma or a history of anemia, shock, or steroid use are at risk.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common out of the five different types of glaucoma. There are no symptoms besides a gradual decline of vision, so the elderly must have their vision changes monitored yearly by the ophthalmologist.

One of the serious types is called narrow-angle glaucoma, which is a medical emergency. Symptoms can include sickness, vomiting, nausea, blurred vision, irritated red eyes, severe eye pain, and seeing halos around lights. Elderly people experiencing these symptoms should alert their in-home care provider or family member and visit a doctor immediately.

Causes of Glaucoma

When the fluid inside the eye does not drain properly, glaucoma can develop. The excess fluid causes an increase in pressure within the eye. This pressure can hinder the optic nerve and can cause vision loss or in more severe cases blindness. Individuals who have normal eye pressure but have poor blood flow to their optic nerve can also be at risk for glaucoma.

Glaucoma Treatments

Among the many ways a doctor can treat glaucoma, the most common would be eye drops. These work by reducing the formation of eye fluid, and allowing better outflow. Those receiving glaucoma eye drop treatment may experience side effects such as irritable, red, or stinging eyes. Seniors should alert their doctors about any allergies they have to medicine, and they can be prescribed an oral medication should the eye drops not work.

Another valid option for glaucoma treatment is laser surgery. Seniors with open-angle glaucoma may benefit from laser surgery with increased fluid outflow, while those with angle-closure glaucoma may have reduced fluid blockage of the eye. Laser surgeries for glaucoma include iridotomy, cyclophotocoagulation, and trabeculoplasty.

Glaucoma and eye health can also be improved at home through lifestyle changes. A healthy diet including leafy greens and omega-3 fatty acids, regular exercise, and sleeping with the head elevated are all recommended by in-home care specialists.

Glaucoma is not preventable, but it can be controlled if the diagnosis and treatment are early enough. Yearly visits to the ophthalmologist are essential for elderly eye health, seniors can reduce the likelihood of blindness and live a higher quality of life as they age.

Comfort Keepers® is the Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC

Comfort Keepers® is the preferred choice for many families when arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care, End of Life Care, Respite Care, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Interactive Caregiving™

Comfort Keepers®’s trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit and our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. Personal and empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. Learn more about our unique service which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers® Vancouver office.

Comfort Keepers® Brings You The Best Home Care Assistance Right Where You Live.

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide home care throughout Vancouver that keeps seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond please call (604) 689-8609. 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which industry experts examine an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures against quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers® offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada. 

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