Glaucoma is a major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting millions globally. While increased intraocular pressure (IOP) is a significant risk factor, non-IOP-dependent mechanisms also play a role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Nutrition and lifestyle can significantly impact the development and progression of glaucoma by helping control IOP and maintaining overall eye health. Diet and exercise are important contributors to preserving vision. Although healthy eating is not a substitute for glaucoma treatment, good nutrition can play a role in glaucoma prevention, as well as helping maintain eyesight in glaucoma patients. This article explores the connection between nutrition and glaucoma, providing practical tips to make informed choices that support vision and overall well-being.
The Role of Diet in Glaucoma Management
Research indicates that unhealthy lifestyle choices, especially poor dietary habits, can significantly affect health. For glaucoma patients, maintaining proper eye pressure is vital, making nutrition a key factor in managing the condition. While a balanced diet cannot cure glaucoma, certain foods and nutrients actively support better eye pressure regulation, improve blood flow to the optic nerve, and reduce oxidative stress - crucial factors in managing glaucoma.
Key Considerations
- Intraocular Pressure (IOP) Reduction: IOP reduction by medications, laser, or surgery remains the mainstay of treatment in glaucoma.
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM): The role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in glaucoma has received great interest from both patients and ophthalmologists.
- Dietary Interventions: A major domain of CAM in glaucoma is the utilization of dietary interventions. Research suggests that an individual’s diet may affect IOP, the incidence of glaucoma, and the progression of the disease.
Foods to Include in Your Diet
Leafy Green Vegetables
Eating leafy greens is widely recognized as essential for maintaining overall health. Research suggests that individuals who regularly consume leafy greens such as kale and spinach may have a lower risk of developing glaucoma. Leafy greens are also known for reducing inflammation and lowering the risk of cancer, heart disease, and macular degeneration. These vegetables contain high amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients found naturally in the eyes, believed to be especially beneficial to eye health and can reduce the risk factors for glaucoma.
Magnesium-Rich Foods
Bananas, avocados, pumpkin seeds, and black beans are excellent sources of magnesium, helping you reach the recommended daily intake of 300-400 mg. Early studies indicate that dietary magnesium may support people with glaucoma by enhancing blood flow to the eyes. It may also help protect retinal ganglion cells - key players in processing visual information and sending it to the brain through the optic nerve.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are excellent sources of vitamin E, which helps maintain cell health and protects retinal tissues from free radical damage. Incorporating almonds, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds into your diet can benefit your eye health.
Read also: Nutritional Strategies for Eye Health
Fruits and Vegetables
Recommendations to eat leafy greens are well-known as a key for optimum health, but a diet that includes leafy greens may also provide additional benefits to patients with glaucoma.
Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and a heart-healthy diet will help decrease risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Intake of dietary nitrates, derived mainly from green leafy vegetables, was associated with a lower risk of primary open-angle glaucoma in two large studies.
Foods to Avoid or Use in Moderation
For glaucoma patients, what you don’t eat can be just as important to your eye health as the foods you do consume.
Caffeine
An often asked question is whether caffeine affects eye pressure and glaucoma. It is known that caffeine can cause a several point rise in eye pressure that lasts for at least 90 minutes. A good rule of thumb is to exercise moderation with caffeine consumption. One cup of coffee is unlikely to cause any harm, but if you like to drink large amounts of coffee consider switching some of that consumption to decaffeinated. Maintaining proper eye pressure is vital for those with glaucoma, so avoiding foods with high amounts of caffeine is recommended.
Read also: Diet and Glaucoma Management
Alcohol
With regard to alcohol consumption, it is known that alcohol can lower eye pressure in the very short term, but there is no data to suggest that drinking alcohol reduces the risk of developing glaucoma or prevents its progression.
High-Sodium Foods
Salt consumption should be kept to a minimum to maintain blood pressure, as well.
Foods Contributing to Metabolic Syndrome
Foods that contribute to metabolic syndrome, obesity, blood pressure abnormalities, and diabetes are risk factors for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
Saturated and Trans Fats
A diet with a lot of saturated fats will lead to weight gain and an increase in body mass index. This can not only increase intraocular pressure, but also cholesterol levels. In addition to saturated fats, you should also limit trans fats because they harm blood vessels and raise cholesterol levels.
Allergic Foods
In addition to avoiding caffeine, saturated fats, trans fatty acids, and salt in your daily diet, glaucoma patients should also consider avoiding any foods they’re allergic to.
Read also: Exercise and Glaucoma
The Impact of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome
Body mass index (BMI), a major anthropometric indicator of obesity, has been linked to elevated IOP in many cross-sectional and longitudinal studies on healthy subjects. In addition to obesity, other components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) have also been linked to elevated IOP and glaucoma. Those with diabetes mellitus (DM) or hypertension (HTN), alone or combined, had an increased risk of developing POAG.
Supplements and Herbal Remedies
Currently, there is no convincing data that supplementation can help in preventing or treating glaucoma. Patients should consult their ophthalmologist before beginning any supplement regimen, as excessive intake of certain herbs, vitamins, or minerals can result in serious health problems. For example, consuming herbs such as ginkgo and bilberry may increase the risk of bleeding with glaucoma surgery.
Lifestyle Recommendations for Glaucoma Patients
Compliance with Treatment
For patients diagnosed with glaucoma, the most important lifestyle change is the compliance with glaucoma treatment. Most glaucoma treatments involve instilling glaucoma eye drops, so understanding how to use eye drops properly is imperative. Successful treatment depends on adhering to your medication schedule.
Safe Exercise
Studies show that moderate exercise can reduce several risk factors for glaucoma. Your exercise and glaucoma should both be monitored by your doctor.
Elevate the Head While Sleeping
A 20-degree incline with a wedge pillow can reduce intraocular pressure.
Stress Relief
Use of relaxation techniques or meditation can help patients cope with stress which can be a trigger for acute angle-closure glaucoma.
Regular Ophthalmologic Check-Ups
Since glaucoma typically has no warning signs, having an annual comprehensive and dilated eye exam will allow for early detection of glaucoma (especially if you are at high risk, such as family history).
Activities to Be Cautious Of
Exercising is extremely important, but you need to be mindful of what exercises you’re doing. Studies don’t show any clear evidence between scuba diving and worsened glaucoma symptoms, but you should speak with Dr. You should also check-in with Dr. Omar Shakir before planning any bungee jumping trips. Much like avoiding exercises where your head is upside down, the same goes for any yoga poses that involve handstands or awkward positions. Speak with Dr. Believe it or not, playing wind instruments has shown minor increases in eye pressure, which could be damaging to the optic nerve. Dr.
Specific Nutrients and Their Role
Lutein and Zeaxanthin
Lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients found naturally in the eyes, are believed to be especially beneficial to eye health and can reduce the risk factors for glaucoma. Spinach and other leafy green vegetables contain high amounts of these antioxidants.
Vitamin E
Nuts and seeds are excellent sources of vitamin E, which helps maintain cell health and protects retinal tissues from free radical damage. Incorporating almonds, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds into your diet can benefit your eye health.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids
A recently published prospective study found that a diet with a high omega 3:6 ratio intake, and thus low in omega 6, was associated with a higher risk of glaucoma. More studies are needed in order to determine whether recommending a diet with a lower omega 3:6 ratio is justified, especially since both omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids are important for heart health and other diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids are typically found in vegetable oils, green vegetables such as kale, and fatty fish such as salmon. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in many types of vegetable oils and can help lower LDL cholesterol.
Dietary Nitrates
Intake of dietary nitrates, derived mainly from green leafy vegetables, was associated with a 20 to 30 percent lower risk of primary open-angle glaucoma in two large studies examining the relationship between nutrition among other factors and various chronic diseases in men and women (the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study).
Polyphenol Compounds
Dark chocolate is a rich dietary source of polyphenol compounds, specifically flavonoids. Acute consumption of dark chocolate has been shown to reverse vascular endothelial dysfunction by decreasing oxidative stress and increasing the bioavailability of NO.
The Role of Antioxidants
As oxidative stress is thought to be an important feature of glaucoma, there have been several studies examining the relationship between antioxidant intake and glaucoma. In one prospective study, no relationship was found between antioxidant intake, such as carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, and the risk of developing glaucoma. However, there are other large studies that have shown a possible relationship between the consumption of foods rich in antioxidants, such as green leafy vegetables like kale and collards, and decreased glaucoma risk.
Additional Considerations
Hydration
When drinking large amounts of liquid, spread out the intake over the course of the day, as consuming it in a short period of time can raise your eye pressure.
General Health Advice
In general, if it is bad for your body, it is bad for your eyes.