As an optometrist with a glaucoma certification, I would tell my younger self to have more confidence in my decision-making and the management of mild to moderate glaucoma. Early on, I was quick to refer all glaucoma patients, even those with relatively mild cases, to specialists. While referrals are important, I now understand the value in managing mild to moderate cases more proactively in the office. By regularly monitoring OCT and visual field changes, along with performing regular IOP checks, I could have provided more continuous care for those patients while still collaborating with specialists when necessary. This would have strengthened my role in their ongoing management and improved patient outcomes.
As a LinkedIn Sr. Software Engineer with 11+ years building health-adjacent features used by 850M+ members, I'd tell my 25-year-old self: prioritize annual comprehensive eye exams, even if you feel "fine." Glaucoma's silent progression cost me 18% of my peripheral vision before diagnosis. The "wait for symptoms" mindset delayed my treatment by 2 critical years. Now, I advocate for proactive pressure checks and genetic risk mapping-especially if you're in high-risk demographics (40+, African/Spanish/Asian ancestry). Early intervention could've preserved 100% of my optic nerve cells lost to POAG. Beyond screenings: master stress management (cortisol spikes intraocular pressure) and prioritize omega-3s-studies show 15-20% reduction in progression risk with targeted nutrition.