Glaucoma progression can go unnoticed when an individual has formed a habit of not going for regular eye checks.
What Is Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that people refer to as a ‘thief of vision’. Gradually, it steals the vision, showing no symptoms in its early stages.
This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye.
Unfortunately, Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in people over the age of 60.
It is irreversible, but there are ways to stop its progression. Slowing down how fast the glaucoma progresses is what this article is all about.
Glaucoma usually develops slowly and can take many years for untreated early-onset glaucoma to develop into blindness (1).
However, if the pressure in the eye is high, the disease is likely to develop more rapidly.
Really, this chronic eye condition occurs when the pressure of the eyes is higher than normal.
Basically, this pressure is largely related to how the drainage system of the eyes is.
You see, the inner pressure of the eye (intraocular pressure or “IOP”) depends on the balance between how much fluid is made and how much drains out of the eye.
Foods That Make Glaucoma Progression Worse
While balance of this fluid flow is necessary, diet can actually affect the flow.
There are specific kinds of food items that studies have identified, that could affect the flow of fluids and raise pressure in the eyes.
Check Trans Fat
High trans fats have been proven to cause damage to the optic nerve.
As a result, it is necessary to remove fried foods, backed goods and products that contain ingredients like hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils from your diet.
Also, foods that are high in saturated fat – red meat, beef, lard, shortening and oils – can make glaucoma progression faster.
Furthermore, foods that contribute to metabolic syndrome, obesity, blood pressure abnormalities, and diabetes increases your risk for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
As a result, a diet that helps maintain normal blood pressure and blood glucose concentrations is also effective in reducing substantial risk for glaucoma.
Also, studies suggest an association between obesity and elevated intraocular pressure and ocular hypertension.
Where there is no evidence yet indicating that losing excess weight reduces the risk for glaucoma, significant decreases in IOP have been reported in humans through weight loss.
Carbohydrate
Also, diets that are high in carbohydrates could raise your risk of glaucoma.
High carb foods are often high in calories and that makes it a risk factor for glaucoma patients.
There are two types of carbohydrates – simple and complex. Complex carbs contain more nutrients that your body use more efficiently.
Also, they are essential and amazing for a long-term health.
Caffeine And Sugar Intake
Taking caffeine can make glaucoma condition worse.
You see, a study says drinking a cup of non-decaf coffee may increase progress of glaucoma (2).
Also, a high blood sugar level can cause an increase in a specific glycoprotein, called fibronectin, to form in your eye.
Furthermore, this fibronectin in your eye blocks your eye’s natural drainage system, which can lead to glaucoma.
That said, it is also important that we share with you what you should add to your diet to slow the progression of glaucoma.
Ways To Slow Glaucoma Progression
While there is no cure for glaucoma, you can slow how fast it progresses.
Slowing glaucoma progression requires that you look at your diet and lifestyle.
Eliminating certain foods from your diet that cause high eye pressure will be helpful.
Also, adding exercise to your daily activity is also important.
You see, there is a lot of diseases that are linked to lifestyle.
As a result, the opposite is also true. Adjustment in lifestyle can lower the unset of some diseases.
For instance, scientists can trace the impact of diet on disease throughout history.
According to some studies, the Maya of Central America started noticing cases of diabetes after they began to eat Western diet high in sugars.
Fruits And Vegetables
Most importantly, your best bet, if you have glaucoma, is to begin to feast on fruits and vegetables.
These blessings of nature are good sources of vitamins A, C, and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.
These compounds are known to protect against oxidative stress associated with damage to the optic nerve.
Also, they protect other tissues of the eye in glaucoma (2).
According to a study, higher intake of certain fruits and vegetables high in vitamins A and C and carotenoids may be associated with a decreased likelihood of glaucoma in older black American women (3).
Thinking of what vegetables to load up, you should think leafy greens.
They have key compounds that provide additional benefits to patients with glaucoma.
Research shows that people who eat more leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach may have a 20 to 30% lower risk of developing glaucoma (4).
Eat Nuts And Seeds
Nuts and seeds are excellent sources of vitamin E. This is an essential vitamin that helps keep cells healthy and protects them from free radical damage.
This damage breaks down the protective retinal tissues in the eye.
Some of these seeds to add to your diet are sunflower seeds, chia seed, flax seed, (which also help decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts), almonds, hazelnuts, and pistachios (these have high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin as well) are all great sources.
Swap Simple Carbs For Complex Carb
Also, it is important to swap simple carbohydrates with complex carbs.
Swap white potatoes, white bread, pasta, juice, milk, sugar, honey, corn syrup and cereals for complex carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, yams, quinoa, brown rice, oatmeal, lentils and squash.
You see, when you take simple carbs, they break down quickly and spike blood sugar levels.
On the other hand, complex carbs help maintain healthy blood sugar levels by releasing glucose over time.
For instance, a study found that healthy caloric restriction can positively affect the eyes, making it more likely to trigger what the researchers refer to as “anti-aging mechanisms” (2).
According to the researchers, this helps limit ocular dysfunction.
Understanding how diet can impact the risk of glaucoma and following healthy dietary guidelines can play an essential role in the lives of people living with glaucoma.
Go For Good Fat And Omega-3 Fatty Acids
You see, instead of using refined processed oil, opt for seeds and nuts like avocados, olive oil, pumpkin, sesame and flax seeds.
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Also, Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for glaucoma patients.
They decrease intraocular eye pressure, increase ocular blood flow and improve optic neuroprotective function.
Omega-3 rich foods include fatty fish such as salmon or halibut, as well as eggs and lean meat.
Check Caffeine And Sugar Intake
There is need to eliminate caffeine from your diet and take cocoa tea instead. a 100% cocoa tea without sugar or additives is what you should go for. if you must add a sweetener, use little amount of honey.
Ensure that you also begin to eliminate sugar from your diet. As seen earlier, where there is increase in blood sugar level, the risk of glaucoma progression increases.