Five Tips to Lower Your Risk of Developing Glaucoma Posted on January 7, 2020August 12, 2020 January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month which serves as a perfect reminder to educate seniors on the importance of protecting their vision. According to the National Eye Institute or (NEI), glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States with older adults 60 years and older at a greater likelihood of developing the disease. Fortunately, practicing a healthy lifestyle can help reduce older adults chances of acquiring this ocular abnormality. Below are five tips to lower your risk of developing glaucoma. 1. Get Regular, Comprehensive Eye Exams A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect glaucoma in its earliest stages. 2. Know Your Family’s Eye History Glaucoma tends to run in families. Talk to your family to see if you have an increased risk of developing an eye condition. 3. Sustain A Healthy Weight Obesity increases your risk of developing glaucoma. Aerobic exercise, in particular, as well as consuming “vision healthy” foods can help. 4. Don’t Smoke Research has linked smoking to high blood pressure, cataracts and diabetes. All of which are high-risk factors for glaucoma. 5. Wear Eye Protection Eye injuries can result in traumatic glaucoma. Keep your eyes safe by wearing goggles when using power tools or operating heavy machinery. Since glaucoma is usually accompanied by little to no symptoms, this sight-stealing illness can cause up to 40 percent of vision loss without a person even taking notice. Furthermore, there is no way to restore vision once it is lost from glaucoma. Do your part to prevent this life-altering disease by following the above tips and working one on one with your eye care professional.