Being diagnosed with glaucoma is scary. There's a fear about glaucoma that patients will lose their vision right away and it can feel like a helpless situation. The good news is that there are a few lifestyle changes that you can make that can help you to feel much better, even while you're dealing with glaucoma. Making just a few of these changes can give you a completely different experience than you first thought you might have.

Eat Nutritious Foods

Usually the first recommendation from your doctor when you're battling any health condition is to eat a nutritious diet full of foods that are good for you. This is the case with glaucoma as well. The Glaucoma Research Foundation recommends a diet full of antioxidants that can nourish your body and your eyes. Dark, leafy greens, such as spinach, as well as healthy oils are definitely foods to add to your diet.

Exercise

Many patients with glaucoma are afraid to exercise, particularly if their vision is impaired at all. Aerobic exercise can actually help to reduce the pressure inside their eyes, however, relieving some of the pain and other side effects of glaucoma. Even a brisk walk for 20 minutes a day is enough exercise for most patients to experience good results. Always talk to your doctor about the right exercise for your situation before beginning a program.

Bump Down Your Caffeine

Eye pressure is a tricky thing to manage, and since glaucoma worsens when the pressure in your eye builds up, you have to be careful with anything that can increase that pressure. Caffeine is one of the triggers that can increase the pressure in your eyes. It's best to quit caffeine altogether, but if you at least limit your intake you can experience some pressure relief.

Drink Your Water

Most doctors recommend that patients get plenty of water, but this is complicated when it comes to patients who have glaucoma. Too much water, for example a quart or more, can lead to increased eye pressure. As a result, glaucoma patients should sip their water throughout the day instead of trying to get it all in within a short period of time.

Talk to an eye doctor, like the ones at Coastal Eye Care, about any changes you might need to make to your lifestyle to help deal with your glaucoma. While the condition is not reversible, you can do quite a bit to make yourself more comfortable and to keep it from worsening too fast.