7 Common Mistakes That Make Your Glaucoma WORSE!

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00:00In today's video, we're talking about 7 common mistakes that could be making your glaucoma worse,

00:05and you might not even realize you're making them. Glaucoma is called the silent thief of

00:10sight for a reason. It doesn't come with early warning signs, and once your vision is gone,

00:16there's no way to bring it back. But what if I told you that some of your daily habits,

00:20like skipping your eye drops, sleeping in the wrong position, or even drinking too much coffee,

00:25could be silently raising your eye pressure and damaging your optic nerve. The good news?

00:31These mistakes are avoidable. And at the end of this video, I'll also share one simple habit that

00:36can actually help lower intraocular pressure naturally. So if you want to do everything

00:41possible to protect your eyesight and slow glaucoma progression, stay with me, because this information

00:47might just save your vision. Mistake number 1. Ignoring early symptoms. Glaucoma is sneaky,

00:54it doesn't announce itself with sudden pain or obvious symptoms. Instead, it creeps in slowly

01:00and silently, which is exactly why it's called the silent thief of sight. Most people don't notice

01:06anything wrong until their vision loss is already permanent. A little blur here, some trouble

01:11adjusting to dim light there. It's easy to brush off. Maybe I just need new glasses, you might think.

01:19But what if those subtle changes are actually signs that your eye pressure is rising and damaging

01:23your optic nerve? The scariest part? Peripheral vision loss, one of the earliest symptoms,

01:30often goes unnoticed. Imagine standing in a crowded room, but over time, the people on the edges start

01:37disappearing. You wouldn't notice right away, right? That's exactly how glaucoma works. It steals your

01:44vision bit by bit, without you realizing it, until it's too late. And here's the harsh truth.

01:50Once the optic nerve is damaged, there's no way to restore it. Unlike a smudged camera lens you can

01:56wipe clean, glaucoma treatment can only slow down the damage, it can't reverse it. That's why waiting

02:02for symptoms to become bad enough before seeing an eye doctor is a huge mistake. It's like ignoring

02:08chest pain until you're having a heart attack. By the time you take action, the damage is already done.

02:14Get regular eye exams. If you're over 60, or if glaucoma runs in your family, you should be seeing

02:21an eye doctor at least once a year. A simple eye pressure test could literally save your vision.

02:27Pay attention to small changes. Do you struggle to see in dim lighting? Notice halos around lights at

02:34night? These tiny red flags could be glaucoma's way of warning you. Be proactive. The difference between

02:42catching glaucoma early and catching it late is the difference between preserving your eyesight or

02:47losing it forever. Think of it like car maintenance. Regular checkups keep everything running smoothly.

02:53But if you wait until your engine light is flashing, you're in for major trouble. And speaking of trouble,

02:59there's another mistake that's putting your vision at risk, and this one is completely within your

03:04control. Mistake number two, skipping eye drops or medications. Let's be honest, taking daily medication

03:11isn't exactly enjoyable. It's easy to forget a dose, especially when you don't feel any immediate

03:17effects. And for some, the side effects of glaucoma eye drops, like stinging, redness or dryness,

03:24make skipping them even more tempting. After all, if it's just one missed dose, how much harm can it

03:30really do? More than you think. Glaucoma isn't like a headache that goes away after you take a pill.

03:36It's a chronic condition that requires consistent management to prevent vision loss.

03:42Skipping doses, even occasionally, allows intraocular pressure to rise, increasing stress

03:48on the optic nerve. Over time, these little misses add up, accelerating nerve damage and bringing you

03:54closer to permanent blindness. Think about it this way. If your doctor told you that a certain medication

04:00was keeping your heart from failing, would you skip it? Probably not. The same logic applies here.

04:07Glaucoma medication isn't about feeling better, it's about preventing vision loss before it happens.

04:13And here's where things get even trickier. Some people stop taking their medication entirely

04:17because they don't notice any immediate improvement. But that's not how glaucoma works.

04:23It's a slow battle of prevention. You won't wake up one day with better vision just because you've

04:28been diligent with your meds. But you also won't wake up blind because you skipped one dose.

04:33The damage happens gradually, which makes it dangerously easy to overlook, until it's too late.

04:39Make your eye drops part of a routine. Tie them to a habit you never forget,

04:44like brushing your teeth or drinking your morning coffee. Set reminders. If memory is an issue,

04:50set an alarm on your phone or use a pill organizer. Talk to your doctor if side effects are a problem.

04:56Some people stop using their drops because of discomfort, but there are different types of

05:01glaucoma medications available. A simple adjustment could make all the difference.

05:07At the end of the day, your optic nerve doesn't get a second chance. Missing doses might feel

05:12harmless now, but over time, they can be the difference between maintaining your sight or slowly losing

05:18it. And speaking of things that can silently damage your eyes, there's another major mistake

05:23most people overlook. Mistake number three, poor blood pressure control. Blood pressure and eye

05:30health. Two things most people don't think of as connected. But if you're not keeping your blood

05:35pressure in check, you could be making your glaucoma worse without even realizing it. And the problem

05:40isn't just high blood pressure. Low blood pressure can be just as dangerous when it comes to vision loss.

05:46Most people assume that only high blood pressure is a risk factor for glaucoma.

05:50And while it's true that elevated blood pressure can increase eye pressure, which speeds up optic

05:56nerve damage, low blood pressure is an even bigger problem. Here's why. Your optic nerve depends on a

06:02steady blood supply to stay healthy. If your blood pressure is too low, it means your optic nerve isn't

06:08getting enough oxygen and nutrients, which can accelerate damage. It's like trying to water a plant with just a

06:15few drops. It simply won't survive. And it gets even more complicated. Many people with glaucoma are

06:22already on blood pressure medication, but certain drugs can lower blood pressure too much at night.

06:27This creates a dangerous situation where the optic nerve is deprived of oxygen for hours,

06:33increasing the risk of vision loss. Imagine squeezing a garden hose while also cutting off the water supply.

06:39That's what's happening inside your eyes. Monitor your blood pressure regularly. Don't just assume it's fine.

06:46Check it at home with a blood pressure monitor. Talk to your doctor if you take blood pressure medication.

06:52Some people may need adjustments to avoid dangerously low blood pressure at night.

06:57Support circulation with lifestyle changes. Moderate exercise, staying hydrated, and cutting back on processed foods

07:05can help maintain a healthy balance. Blood pressure might not seem like a big deal when it comes to your

07:10eyes, but keeping it stable can slow down glaucoma progression and help protect your vision. And while

07:16we're talking about things that can increase intraocular pressure, there's another mistake people make

07:21without realizing it. Holding their breath during physical activity. Mistake number four. Holding your breath

07:28during physical activity. Whether you're lifting weights, carrying heavy groceries, or even bending down to tie

07:34your shoes, you might be holding your breath without realizing it. It seems harmless, but this small

07:40habit can spike your intraocular pressure, putting extra strain on your optic nerve and worsening

07:45glaucoma over time. This is known as the Valsalva maneuver, a natural reflex where you hold your breath

07:51while exerting force. It happens when lifting heavy objects, pushing furniture, or even during a difficult

07:58bowel movement. The problem is that holding your breath creates a sudden surge in blood pressure,

08:03which also increases eye pressure. For someone with glaucoma, these repeated spikes in intraocular

08:09pressure can accelerate vision loss. Think of it like putting too much pressure on a fragile water

08:15pipe. Over time, it weakens and cracks. Exhale during exertion. When lifting, pushing, or pulling,

08:22make sure to breathe out instead of holding your breath. For example, if you're lifting something heavy,

08:28exhale as you lift. Practice controlled breathing techniques. Deep, steady breathing prevents sudden

08:35pressure spikes and keeps oxygen flowing to the optic nerve. Be mindful of your posture and strain.

08:42Avoid bending forward for long periods, and if you engage in weightlifting, opt for lighter weights with

08:47more repetitions rather than heavy lifting. Breathing may seem like a minor detail, but changing this one

08:53habit can help protect your eyesight in the long run. And speaking of things we do without much thought,

08:59there's something else that could be harming your vision, the way you sleep. Mistake number 5.

09:05Sleeping in the wrong position. Most people don't think about how their sleeping position affects their

09:10eye health, but it can increase intraocular pressure and make glaucoma worse over time.

09:15Sleeping on your stomach or with your head too low puts extra pressure on your eyes,

09:19especially if your face is pressed against the pillow. Even favoring one side too often can lead

09:25to uneven glaucoma progression, meaning one eye may deteriorate faster than the other.

09:30If you have sleep apnea, the risks are even higher. Sleep apnea reduces oxygen supply to the optic nerve,

09:38increasing the chance of vision loss. Many people don't even realize they have it,

09:42but if you snore loudly, wake up exhausted, or experience frequent headaches, it's worth getting checked.

09:48A CPAP machine can improve sleep quality and help protect your eyes from further damage.

09:54To reduce risk, sleep with your head slightly elevated using a wedge pillow or an adjustable bed.

10:00If you're a side sleeper, try alternating sides instead of always resting on the same one.

10:06And if you suspect sleep apnea, talk to your doctor. Treating it can slow glaucoma progression

10:11and improve your overall health. A good night's sleep isn't just about rest,

10:16it's about protecting your vision for the long run. Mistake number 6. Excessive caffeine and

10:22dehydration. For many people, that morning cup of coffee is non-negotiable. But while caffeine gives

10:29you an energy boost, too much of it can increase intraocular pressure, putting extra stress on

10:34your optic nerve. The problem isn't just coffee, energy drinks, certain teas, and sodas can have the

10:41same effect. If you already have glaucoma, these frequent spikes in eye pressure can speed up vision

10:46loss over time. But caffeine isn't the only issue, dehydration makes things even worse. When your body

10:53lacks water, blood circulation slows down, reducing oxygen and nutrients to the optic nerve. This added

11:00stress can weaken your vision even further. Many people don't feel thirsty until they're already

11:06dehydrated, which means their eyes could be suffering in silence. Staying properly hydrated

11:11is just as important as limiting caffeine intake. To protect your vision, limit caffeine to one or two

11:18cups per day and avoid high-caffeine energy drinks. For every cup of coffee, drink a full glass of water

11:25right after to maintain hydration. If plain water isn't appealing, try herbal teas or infused water with

11:31lemon or cucumber. Small daily adjustments like these can reduce pressure on your optic nerve and

11:37help you maintain your eyesight for years to come. Mistake number seven, not protecting your eyes from

11:43UV light. You wouldn't step outside on a scorching day without sunscreen, right? Well, think of UV rays as

11:51sunburn for your eyes. Just like prolonged sun exposure damages your skin, UV light can worsen glaucoma,

11:58speed up optic nerve damage, and contribute to vision loss over time. And the surprising part?

12:04This doesn't just happen on sunny days. Even when it's cloudy, UV rays still reach your eyes and cause

12:10harm. The problem is that most people don't take eye protection seriously until they start noticing

12:15vision problems. But by then, the damage is already in motion. UV exposure increases oxidative stress in

12:23the eyes, raising the risk of cataracts, retinal damage, and elevated eye pressure. Even blue light

12:29from screens can contribute to eye strain and long-term issues, making daily protection even more

12:35important. To safeguard your vision, wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection whenever you're outdoors.

12:42Choose wraparound sunglasses for extra coverage, preventing UV rays from sneaking in from the sides.

12:48And for added protection, wear a hat with a brim to reduce direct sunlight exposure.

12:54Protecting your eyes from UV rays is one of the easiest ways to slow down glaucoma progression

12:59and preserve your vision for the future. Bonus tip, a simple habit to lower intraocular pressure

13:05naturally. What if there was a simple natural way to reduce intraocular pressure and help your eye

13:11health in just a few minutes a day? Well there is, and it's surprisingly effective, gentle eye massage and

13:17relaxation techniques. Studies suggest that a light eye massage can help improve blood circulation to

13:23the optic nerve, which might reduce eye pressure. It's like a relaxing massage for your eyes that can

13:29improve fluid drainage, potentially slowing glaucoma progression. To do this, close your eyes and gently

13:36press the outer corners for about 10 seconds to stimulate circulation. You can also use your fingertips

13:41to make light, circular motions around your temples and brow area. This will relieve tension and improve

13:48blood flow. Combine this with deep breathing, inhale deeply through your nose, then exhale slowly

13:54through your mouth. This reduces stress, which is another hidden factor in raising eye pressure.

14:01Another great technique is palming. Rub your hands together to create warmth, then gently place them

14:07over your closed eyes. The warmth relaxes the optic nerve, and the darkness gives your eyes a much

14:13needed break from constant light exposure. While this can't replace proper treatment, incorporating this

14:18simple habit into your daily routine could become a powerful tool in your eye care. Now that you know

14:24the 7 common mistakes that could be making your glaucoma worse, the question is, what are you going to

14:29change today? Will you start being more consistent with your medication? Pay closer attention to early

14:36warning signs? Cut back on caffeine and make sure you're staying hydrated? Whatever it is, don't

14:42wait. Take action now, because when it comes to vision loss, there's no rewind button. Protecting your

14:49eyesight isn't just about treatment, it's about prevention. Every small change you make today can

14:55have a huge impact on your vision in the future. And let's be honest, your eyesight is one of the most

15:01valuable things you have. Losing it isn't an option. If you found this video helpful, make sure to like,

15:07share, and subscribe so you never miss another important eye health tip. And let me know in the

15:13comments, which of these mistakes surprised you the most. Have you been unknowingly making any of them?

15:19Stay healthy, stay informed, and I'll see you in the next video. And speaking of your health, check out the

15:26next video on your screen right now. It's packed with even more life-changing tips to keep you thriving.

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