Lifestyle advice

Lifestyle changes can make a difference and can also make a patient feel like they are doing something tangible to manage their condition. Measures to suggest include:

• Reducing caffeine intake as too much can raise IOP
• Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption as this can damage the optic nerve as well as have other detrimental effects on health
• Omega oils from fish and seeds have been shown to be good for general eye health, and some patients may wonder about taking gingko biloba, which has been linked to improved blood flow including to the optic nerve. Check interactions with any other medication the patient is on if they want to pursue this as a lifestyle measure
• Smoking is associated with higher IOP and dry eye condition, as well as many other health issues, so should be avoided.