Home Health and Glaucoma

Managing progressive illnesses, such as glaucoma, require proactive interventions. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-tips-for-living-better-with-glaucoma), individuals diagnosed with glaucoma can prevent progression by

  1. adhering to medications
  2. avoiding falls and accidents
  3. maintaining a healthy lifestyle
  4. reading
  5. creating a support team

Home health services support patients by creating positive routines for the care and management of their person and their disease (https://preferhome.com/senior-resources/common-senior-illnesses/glaucoma/). Because glaucoma can impact the way an individual processes light vs. dark, contrasts, transitioning from different lit rooms, or have sensitivity to light or glare, home health professionals, such as occupational therapists, are uniquely trained to examine and process these environmental challenges.

Our goal is to keep patients in their chosen living environment. Proactively setting up systems helps make this a reality.

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month

Diabetes is a complex disease with multiple challenges that result as the disease progresses. One of the known complexities is the impact on vision and the eyes of individuals with advancing diabetes. Diabetes-related retinopathy damages the blood vessels that support the eye and causing bleeding in the retina. The complexities that result may lead to fluid leakage in the macula causing blurred vision, a condition known as macular edema. Other known complexities include cataracts (clouding of the lens which results in blurry and dulled vision) and glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve and the loss of side vision from fluid buildup in the eye). The complexities of managing diabetes and the aging process with vision loss to blindness increase challenges for adherence to medical recommendations and independent living.

For more information, check out PreventBlindness.org