Foods That Support Eye Health and May Help Manage Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye condition where excessive fluid creates pressure on your eyes and damages the eye’s optic nerve. In severe cases, it sometimes leads to permanent blindness. People of any age can be affected by glaucoma. Eye pain, headache, blurred vision, and red or bloodshot eyes are the common symptoms of glaucoma, and you must consult with an eye specialist immediately if you face any such problems. The negligence may make the situation worse. Proper treatment and changing lifestyle with an effective diet can control further vision loss.

Reason for Glaucoma

Our eye constantly generates aqueous humor (a clear liquid in the front part of the eye for nourishing the eye). The existing aqueous humor drains out through the drainage angle when new aqueous fluid flows into your eyes. But, in case of non-functioning or blockage of the drainage angle, the aqueous fluid does not drain out and piles up, creating excess pressure that further damages the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the bundle of tiny nerve fibers, just like an electric cable that is made up of so many small wires. Any damage to the optic nerve develops blind spots in your vision and leads to blindness, known as glaucoma.

Nutrition and glaucoma

Research studies say that unhealthy lifestyles, mainly poor diets, may lead to slow progression of glaucoma. Maintaining proper nutritional food can protect your eye health and improve eye pressure regulation in the optic nerve. 

• Eating leafy green vegetables is recommended for maintaining overall good eye health. Leafy vegetables like spinach reduce the chances of glaucoma by 20% to 30%. However, maintaining a proper dietary plan may not cure glaucoma, but it helps you to prevent the disease because unhealthy diets and the absence of nutritional foods often lead to severe health hazards. 

• Take fruits or veggies that contain enough vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin. Antioxidants have the excellent property of reducing the oxidative stress that damages the optic nerve tissue. 

• Consumption of nuts, pumpkin seeds, fish, chocolate, tea, or fruits with sources of magnesium like bananas and avocados helps in preventing glaucoma.

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine to maintain good eye health because these substances elevate the chances of intraocular pressure that may lead to glaucoma or any other related severe diseases. 

Proper nutrition or herbal remedies cannot cure or completely prevent glaucoma, but they can help you to maintain good eye health and reduce the chances of glaucoma. Consult with expert eye specialists at Dr. Agarwal's Hospital immediately if you face any kind of eye-related problems to stay away from major complications. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which food to avoid in glaucoma? 

Avoid consumption of sugary goods like sweets and candies, alcohol, and caffeine to stay away from glaucoma.

Q2. Are polyunsaturated fats good for eye health?

Yes. You can take polyunsaturated fatty acids like omega-3 acids (present in fish, dietary supplements, and fish oil) to maintain good cardiovascular health, reduce triglycerides in blood, and improve eye health. 

Q3. Can glaucoma be cured? 

Glaucoma damage is not curable, but it can be controlled further progression with proper medication and a healthy diet.