Home Health Care Services: Glaucoma Facts for Seniors During National Glaucoma Awareness Month

Victoria Senior Home Care  |  January 28, 2018

What Every Senior in Victoria, BC Needs to Know About Glaucoma and Home Health Care

Glaucoma Facts for Seniors | Glaucoma is a painless, yet serious disease since it can cause damage to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain and enables vision. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness and is often found in the elderly. Experts from home health care services have outlined the glaucoma risk factors, symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Glaucoma Facts for Seniors: Risk Factors

Glaucoma has several risk factors, with the greatest being the high pressure of the eye. A family history of glaucoma as well as shock, anemia, or steroid use is another risk. Other risks include eye issues such as previous injury, old age, thin corneas, and nearsightedness.

Glaucoma Facts for Seniors: Symptoms of Glaucoma

Of the five types of glaucoma, the most common is called open-angle glaucoma. The elderly need to visit their ophthalmologist yearly because this type has no signs or symptoms besides a gradual decline, and vision changes need to be monitored.

One other type is called narrow-angle glaucoma, and it is serious enough to be considered a medical emergency. Some of the symptoms are eye redness, severe pain in the eye, blurry vision or seeing light halos, nausea, and vomiting. Seniors who experience these symptoms should have home health care services get them to a doctor right away.

Glaucoma Facts for Seniors: Causes of Glaucoma

In most cases, glaucoma occurs due to drainage problems of the eye. A buildup of fluid will lead to increased pressure inside the eye, which can press the optic nerve. High pressure over time can cause vision loss or even blindness. People with normal eye pressure can experience glaucoma if they have poor blood circulation to the optic nerve or a weakened nerve.

Glaucoma Facts for Seniors: Treatments

Doctors can treat glaucoma in some ways, but the most common treatment is the application of eye drops. Eye drops help to increase the outflow of fluids from the eye, as well as reduce fluid formation. Glaucoma eye drop side effects include redness, stinging, and irritation. Patients should let their doctors know about any allergies to medicine, and if the eye drops do not work they can be prescribed an oral medication.

Another option to treat glaucoma is laser surgery. Laser surgery can help increase eye fluid flow in people with open-angle glaucoma, or help stop fluid blockage for people with angle-closure glaucoma. Some of the different laser surgeries include trabeculoplasty, cyclophotocoagulation, and iridotomy.

Treatment for glaucoma can be done through changes in daily living at home. According to home health care services, seniors should eat a healthy diet of omega-3 fatty acids and dark leafy greens, get frequent exercise, and sleep with their heads elevated.

Although glaucoma cannot be prevented, it can be controlled with an early diagnosis and treatment. A yearly trip to the ophthalmologist is crucial for eye health so seniors can experience their golden years with a reduced risk of blindness and a higher quality of life.

At Comfort Keepers® Victoria we feel that home is the best place to be.

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® Victoria Provides In-Home Elderly Care Services

Comfort Keepers® 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).

Comfort Keepers® Victoria In-Home Caregivers Can Help with Interactive Caregiving™

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 Victoria office.

Comfort Keepers® Victoria is proud to provide senior care and home care services to keep seniors safe in their homes.

If you are searching for home care near me, Comfort Keepers® Victoria can provide home care for the seniors of Victoria and the surrounding areas of Colwood, Saanich, Sidney, James Bay, and Oak Bay. Please call (778) 265-5999 and learn how your loved ones can receive compassionate, professional in-home care.

Comfort Keepers® Victoria has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures are examined by industry experts against a set of 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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