Living with Glaucoma

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How to put drops in your eyes

Wash your hands thoroughly.

Tilt your head backwards slightly, whether standing, sitting or lying down. Pull the lower eyelid downwards slightly with your index finger to form a small “pocket”.

Look up. Squeeze the bottle until a drop falls into the “pocket” formed by the lower eyelid. Do not blink, dry your eyes or touch the tip of the bottle against your eyes.

Close your eyes gently, as if you were falling asleep. Keep your eyes closed for 2–3 minutes without blinking. While they are closed for this period, press lightly on the inner corner of your eyes (the tear duct area) with your index finger and thumb – this will prevent the eye drops from entering your throat and the rest of your body.

Use a gauze to remove any remains of the product from around your eyes.

If you have to instil another drop after the first one, wait for at least 5–10 minutes between the two applications to ensure the second drop does not wash away the first one and therefore guarantee the effectiveness of the treatment.

How to alleviate the side effects

Most local side effects affecting the eye due to permanent treatment with hypotensive eye drops (irritation, redness, stinging, etc.) can be alleviated by applying artificial tears to hydrate the surface of the eye. Preservative-free medications can also be prescribed to minimise these effects on the eye’s surface. Once the drops have been applied, it is also a good idea to apply a little pressure to the tear ducts for 1 minute to reduce the amount of medicine that enters the nose, mouth and eventually the blood circulation.

Healthy habits

Healthy lifestyle habits help mitigate the progress of the disease because they keep the optic nerve healthy. It is important to maintain control over cardiovascular risk factors (high blood pressure, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and triglyceride levels) as part of glaucoma treatment.

Diet. It is recommendable to follow a balanced diet rich in vitamins A, B, C and E or minerals such as calcium, and protein. Lutein and zeaxanthine found in spinach and pumpkin are also recommended for good visual function. Antioxidants such as dark chocolate and red wine (in moderation) are also known to have a beneficial effect. Glaucoma patients should avoid too much caffeine because in high doses it has been shown to cause an increase in intraocular pressure.

Exercise. Some studies suggest that physically fit people have a lower eye pressure than those who do not practise regular exercise. It is advisable to exercise outdoors because it helps oxygenate the body. Patients who practise yoga regularly must avoid inverted poses as they increase the pressure in the eye. Swimmers must avoid wearing goggle that place pressure on the eyeballs. Patients who are taking eye drops with beta-blockers may notice a decline in their athletic performance. Patients must restrict their sporting activity for 3 months following glaucoma surgery.

Sexuality. It should be noted that certain glaucoma eye drop treatments (beta-blocker eye drops) can cause erection difficulties, which must be explained to the patient beforehand. At the same time, the use of drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (Viagra® and the like) must be monitored as they can reduce blood flow to the optic nerve, which may result in vision loss.

Travelling. There is no need to stop flying on airplanes as the cabin is pressurised. However, patients must always remember to take their hypotensive eye drops with them as the treatment must be taken on a daily basis.

Social and emotional support. Glaucoma patients often suffer the psychological consequences of a disease that can be very incapacitating, without the correct treatment, as well as the side effects of a chronic topical medication that can cause eye discomfort (irritation, dry eyes, etc.). There are patient associations that offer support, information and help for people with glaucoma to make it easier to live with the disease.

Substantiated information by:

Elena Fraga Pumar Optometrist Ophthalmology Department

Elena Milla Griñó Ophthalmologist Ophthalmology Department

Marta Pazos López Ophthalmologist Ophthalmology Department

Published: 19 October 2018
Updated: 19 October 2018

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