Glaucoma

Glaucoma affects more than two million Americans and is the second leading cause of blindness in this country. This can be a very serious disease that must be given medical care as soon as possible, if permanent vision loss is to be avoided. In the healthy eye, fluid is produced and drained at equal rates. If the fluid cannot drain properly, it builds up and puts pressure on the optic nerve, the retina, and the lens. This pressure can partially damage or even completely destroy retina and the optic nerve.

If the outflow channels are open and become blocked with debris, the disorder is called open-angle glaucoma. Chronic open-angle glaucoma is the most common form and usually occurs over the years. Fluid drains too slowly from the anterior chamber of the eye and pressure builds up. At first, increased pressure in the eyes produces no symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include narrowing peripheral vision, mild headaches, and vague visual disturbances, such as seeing halos around electric lights or having difficulty adapting to darkness. At some point, tunnel vision—where the visual field narrows and makes it hard to see anything on either side when looking forward—may develop.

If the channels are blocked by the iris, the disorder is called closed-angle glaucoma. Fluid pressure increases quickly and causes intense pain in one eye, along with headaches and vision problems, including blurring or a “halo effect” around lights. The eyeball feels hard to the touch, and the pain may be so severe that it causes nausea and even vomiting. The eyelid swells, and the eye becomes red and watery. These symptoms are warning signs that you must receive medical care immediately. Permanent vision loss and even total blindness can settle in after just a few days. Fortunately, acute glaucoma is rather rare and accounts for only 10 percent of all glaucoma cases. Certain medications, long periods spend in darkness, and stress are all potential triggers for an attack.

Since the disease targets older people most frequently, anyone over sixty-five should make glaucoma tests part of their annual eye exam. African Americans, who have a much higher incidence of glaucoma than the rest of the population does, should start getting annual tests after the age of forty, as should anyone with diabetes. If at any age you experience a loss of peripheral vision, constant low-level headaches, eye pain, or blurred vision that is not corrected with one new lens prescription, see a doctor at once. If you test positive for glaucoma, you may not be able to recover the damage that’s already been down, but there’s a good chance that you can significantly slow the progress of the disease.

There does not seem to be one single cause of glaucoma. Most likely, a variety of factors come into play. A good strategy for prevention, as well as treatment in conjunction with a doctor’s care, incorporates reducing the general number of toxins in the body, eating foods that support the eye, correcting nutritional deficiencies associated with glaucoma, enhancing digestion, avoiding medications that predispose one to glaucoma, and reducing stress.

** All of these prescriptions below have been proven effective; level of effectiveness depends on the individual. Please consult your doctor when taking any and all supplements.

Symptoms of Open-Angle Glaucoma

Symptoms of Closed-Angle Glaucoma

Chronic glaucoma is usually asymptomatic until irreversible damage has already been done. Sings that chronic glaucoma has already progressed include the following:

Root Causes

TREATMENT

If you have glaucoma of either kind, you must be under a doctor’s care. The therapies listed here will complement and support your conventional treatment. Natural therapies work very well for chronic and open-angle glaucoma.

Diet

Recommended Food

Eat a basic, wholesome diet based on whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Carotenoids are essential for optimum eye health. Consume plenty of orange, yellow, and green leafy vegetables. It is also highly recommended that you drink live juice made from these and other fruits and vegetables several times a day.

The bioflavonoid anthocyanidin fights free radicals and helps keep the collagen around the eye healthy and flexible. Blueberries and cherries are excellent sources.

Drink a glass of clean water every two waking hours to flush toxins and to keep the eye tissues supple. Spread your consumption of water and other liquids out across the day, so that you do not build up pressure in your eye.

Some studies have shown fish oils to lower eye pressure. Incorporate fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and cod into your meals two or three times a week.

Chromium and magnesium both have essential effects on glaucoma. Brewer’s yeast is the best source of chromium; kelp, leafy greens, apples, and safflower and sesame oils will provide you with magnesium.

Foods to Avoid

Fluid retention in the eye may be a response to food allergies. Determine whether a food is contributing to your problem. If you find that consumption of a certain food makes your eyes red, irritated, painful, or tender, you must avoid that product from now on.

Caffeine has been shown to reduce blood flow to the eye, so avoid coffee, chocolate, and caffeinated teas and sodas.

A toxic liver may be related to eye problems. Avoid alcohol, which puts a terrible burden on this essential organ.

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