Because the eye is filled with fluid, it also has an inherent pressure. Too much pressure can compress and damage the optic nerve, resulting in glaucoma, which leads to loss of vision. Increased eye pressure can be the result of inadequate draining of a liquid called the aqueous humor, or due to too much of this liquid being produced. Although vision loss caused by glaucoma cannot be healed, the disease's progress can be slowed.
Step 1
Drink fluids in small amounts. Drinking large amounts of fluids all at once can raise your eye pressure, exacerbating glaucoma.
Step 2
Use prescription eye drops. There are many different kinds of eye drops that can be used to lower eye pressure. Some of these work by making it easier for fluid to drain out of the eyes. These types of eye drops include epinephrine, prostaglandin-like compounds, and cholinergic eyedrops. Other eye drops work to lower the amount of fluid produced in your eyes. Examples of this kind of eye drops include beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and alpha-agonists.
Step 3
Take carbonic anhydrase pills. According to the Mayo Clinic, some patients need additional medication to help lower their eye pressure. In many cases, patients benefit from taking carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (which include methazolamide and acetazolamide) orally. Patients taking these pills need to eat additional potassium (which can be found in apple juice and bananas), as the medications can cause potassium loss.
Step 4
Get surgery. In severe cases, patients can have their eye pressure lowered by receiving laser surgery. According to Medline, laser surgery works to increase the size of the drainage ducts in the eyes, making it easier for them to drain fluid from the eye.
