Glaucoma is an increase in pressure in the eyeball. The normal pressure inside the eye globe is 10 to 20 mm Hg.
In glaucoma, the pressure exceeds 20 mm Hg, leading to symptoms such as pounding pain of the eye, progressive visual loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, red eye, puffy eyelid, headaches, nausea and vomiting, and if left untreated, damage to the optic nerve followed by total blindness.
Potential contributing factors:
- Heredity.
- Age over 60.
- Ethnic background.
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Low function thyroid.
- Marfan`s syndrome.
- Ehlers – Danlos syndrome.
- Medications: corticosteroids, medications for depression, psychosis, Parkinson, and allergies, and anticoagulants.
Nutritional Support:
Restricted Foods:
- Allergenic foods. Removing allergenic foods is a key in helping people with glaucoma.
- Caffeine. It increases pressure in the eyeball by reducing blood flow to the eye.
- Chocolate.
- Caffeinated beverages.
- Foods high in saturated fats.
- Alcohol.
- Foods supplements that contain “Ma Huang” (ephedra), as it increases pressure inside the eye.
Recommended Foods:
- Whole grains.
- Foods high in carotenoids: carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, collard greens, papaya, bell peppers, and tomatoes.
- Foods high in bioflavonoid: berries.
- Flaxseeds.
- Chia seeds.
- Hemp seeds.
- Fish.
Recommended Supplements:
- Vitamin C: 1000 – 2000 mg a day.
- Ginkgo Biloba: 200 – 300 mg a day.
- Omega – 3 Fatty Acids: 2 – 3 grams a day.
- Astaxanthin: 3 – 6 mg day.
- French Maritime Pine Bark Extract: 100 – 200 mg a day.
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA): 100 – 200 mg a day.
- Magnesium: 200 – 400 mg a day.
- Chromium Picolinate: 500 – 1000 mcg a day.
- Grape Seed Extract: 50 – 100 mg a day.
Miscellaneous Suggestion:
- Liver detoxification and cleaning.
- Regular exercise helps reduce pressure in the eye especially in persons with sedentary life.
