Two years ago, I experienced something unexpected. I was signing a cheque—something I’ve done countless times—but this time, my vision felt blurry. I’ve always had a little far-sightedness (1.5), but near vision was never a problem. This sudden change was confusing and a bit scary. When I went to the eye doctor, I was shocked to hear that I had glaucoma—a condition I had only heard about in passing. What made it more surprising was that I had no family history of it, and I was only 46 at the time.
After getting prescribed medicines and doing some research at home, I learned that while glaucoma is not curable, it can be controlled with proper care. Since I’m someone who takes my medicines seriously and sticks to routines, I made sure not to miss anything. But just a few months later, I began feeling like something was pinching my eye, almost like a needle. On my next visit, the doctor told me it was dry eye—a condition that often shows up along with glaucoma.
So, let’s talk more about these two eye issues, how they’re connected, and what you need to watch out for.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that slowly damage the optic nerve, the part of the eye that sends images to your brain. Most of the time, this damage is caused by high pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure). Over time, this pressure can lead to vision loss, and in severe cases, even blindness.
There are different types of glaucoma, but the most common is called open-angle glaucoma. It usually doesn’t show clear symptoms in the beginning, which is why it’s sometimes called the “silent thief of sight.” You might not feel pain or notice anything wrong until it’s too late, and vision loss has already started.
What are Dry Eyes?
Dry eye is a condition that happens when your eyes either don’t produce enough tears, or the tears they do make are poor in quality. You might think tears are just water, but they’re actually made up of three important layers: oil, water, and mucus. All three are needed to keep your eyes moist, smooth, and comfortable. If any of these layers are missing or out of balance, your eyes can become dry, irritated, and uncomfortable.
In my own experience, I started to feel like something sharp—almost like a pin—was poking my eye. It wasn’t constant, but it was enough to make me feel uncomfortable and worried. When I told my doctor, he explained that dry eye and glaucoma often come together, especially if you’re using long-term glaucoma eye drops.
The Link Between Glaucoma and Dry Eyes
At first, it may seem like glaucoma and dry eye are totally different problems, but they’re often linked. Here’s how:
- Eye Drops: The medicines used for treating glaucoma often contain preservatives, which can irritate the eyes and cause dryness over time.
- Aging: Both glaucoma and dry eye are more common as we get older, so they can happen together just because of age.
- Inflammation: Long-term eye conditions can lead to inflammation, which can make dry eye worse.
- Lack of Tear Production: Some glaucoma medications may reduce the production of tears or affect the glands that keep the eyes moist.
This is why it’s important for people with glaucoma to also get checked for dry eye, just like in my case.
Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma and Dry Eyes
Since the symptoms of dry eyes and glaucoma sometimes coexist, it's critical to identify each condition's symptoms for an accurate diagnosis and course of therapy.
Symptoms of Glaucoma:
- Gradual loss of peripheral vision (open-angle glaucoma)
- Sharp, acute discomfort in the eyes (with angle-closure glaucoma)
- Eyesight haze or halos around lights
- Eye redness
- Headaches
Symptoms of Dry Eyes:
- Eye dryness or an itchy sensation
- Inflamed, red eyes
- Teary eyes as a result of reflex tears
- Hazy or inconsistent eyesight
- Light Sensitivity
Causes and Risk Factors for Glaucoma and Dry Eye
Understanding what causes these conditions can help us become more aware and take better care of our eyes. Sometimes, we can’t control the causes, but we can definitely manage the risk.
Causes of Glaucoma:
High Eye Pressure (Intraocular Pressure): This is the most common cause. When the fluid inside your eye doesn’t drain properly, pressure builds up and damages the optic nerve.
Poor Blood Flow to the Optic Nerve: Even with normal pressure, reduced blood supply to the nerve can cause damage.
Genetics: Though I didn’t have any family history, many people with glaucoma do. If it runs in your family, your risk increases.
Age: Glaucoma becomes more common after 40. Even though I was only 46, it was still considered early.
Medical Conditions: Diabetes, high blood pressure, and extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness can increase risk.
Causes of Dry Eye:
Aging: Tear production tends to decrease with age.
Hormonal Changes: Especially in women, hormonal shifts (like menopause) can affect tear glands.
Environmental Factors: Wind, dry weather, smoke, and even air conditioning can make eyes dry.
Long Screen Time: We blink less when looking at screens, causing our eyes to dry out.
Medications: Antihistamines, antidepressants, and glaucoma medications can all reduce tear production.
Why It’s Important to Treat Both Conditions
Some people think dry eye is just a minor irritation, but it’s more than that, especially if you also have glaucoma. If left untreated, dry eye can:
Make it harder to use glaucoma drops, as irritated eyes are more sensitive
Affects vision quality, making reading, driving, or working on screens uncomfortable
Reduce your overall eye health, which is already under stress due to glaucoma
Glaucoma, on the other hand, is silent and slow. If you miss the signs or skip treatment, the vision loss it causes cannot be reversed. That’s why taking care of both conditions at the same time is not just important—it’s essential.
Treatment Options: Medicines and More
Treatments may vary depending on how severe your symptoms are, but usually include a mix of the following:
For Glaucoma:
Eye Drops: These help lower eye pressure. Some reduce fluid production, others help drain it better. Be sure to take them exactly as prescribed—like I do daily.
Oral Medications: In some cases, pills are given if drops aren’t enough.
Laser Treatments or Surgery: If medicines don’t help, these options are used to improve drainage and reduce pressure permanently.
For Dry Eye:
Artificial Tears: Over-the-counter eye drops that keep your eyes moist.
Prescription Eye Drops: These help increase tear production or reduce inflammation.
Warm Compresses and Eyelid Hygiene: Helpful for unclogging oil glands that protect tears.
Lifestyle Changes: More breaks from screens, using humidifiers, or wearing sunglasses to protect from wind and sun.
Lifestyle Tips to Manage Both Conditions Together
Living with both glaucoma and dry eyes means building small habits that protect your eyes daily. Here are a few that helped me and might help you too:
1. Stick to a Routine: Take your glaucoma drops at the same time every day. If you also need artificial tears, space them out correctly so they don’t mix. I keep alarms on my phone as a reminder.
2. Blink Often—Especially on Screens: Sounds simple, but it really works. Every 20 minutes, I try the “20-20-20 rule”: Look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
3. Hydrate and Eat Well: Drink plenty of water. Foods rich in omega-3 (like fish, walnuts, and flaxseed) are known to help with dry eyes. Avoid too much caffeine and alcohol, as they can dehydrate you.
4. Limit Eye Strain: Dim lighting, reduce screen brightness, and adjust your screen’s position to be at eye level. I also use blue light filters to reduce stress on my eyes.
5. Protect from Wind and Dust: Wear sunglasses outdoors. At home, avoid fans or vents blowing directly at your face.
6. Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly: Even if you feel fine, keep up with regular check-ups. My doctor tracks my eye pressure closely to adjust medications if needed.
Living With Eye Conditions Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
I never imagined that at 46, I’d be dealing with a long-term eye condition like glaucoma. And when dry eye joined the journey, it felt like another challenge. But with proper treatment, self-discipline, and a few changes in lifestyle, it has become manageable.
The most important lesson I’ve learned is this: Don’t ignore your eyes. If something feels even slightly off, get it checked. The earlier you catch these conditions, the better your chances of protecting your vision for years to come.
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