Foods to Avoid in Glaucoma - An Overview

Introduction

While a direct link between nutrition and glaucoma is unknown, several foods have been found to raise the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eyes, which may exacerbate glaucoma. For an individual who lives with glaucoma, there are benefits to eating certain foods and avoiding others. However, maintaining a balanced diet is not a solution and cannot prevent glaucoma. Glaucoma risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, and health issues.

Eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet can be beneficial in preventing all these risk factors in many ways. For example, foods rich in trans fatty acids have the potential to increase cholesterol and ultimately damage blood vessels. In the same way, saturated fats can aggravate glaucoma cause weight gain, and cause other health problems.

Simple carbs can increase insulin levels, raising IOP and blood pressure. Finally, consumption of caffeine and alcohol can also raise the IOP. In a nutshell, eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet can improve the overall body well-being and the health of the eyes.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a collection of eye disorders that can cause blindness and visual loss by affecting the optic nerve, a nerve located in the back of the eye. For individuals over 60, it is one of the main causes of blindness. For healthy vision, the optic nerve, which transmits visual data from the eye to the brain, is essential.

Elevated intraocular pressure is often linked with optic nerve damage. However, normal eye pressure does not always lead to glaucoma. The symptoms may appear gradually and go unrecognized at first. A thorough dilated eye exam helps determine glaucoma. Although glaucoma cannot be cured, early intervention frequently prevents further damage and safeguards the vision.

What Food Should Be Avoided by Individuals With Glaucoma?

Certain foods can worsen glaucoma by increasing the intraocular pressure in the eyes. So, it is generally advisable to avoid foods that increase the IOP of the eyes.

The following are the foods that should be avoided as it can increase the IOP of the eyes:

• Trans Fatty Acids - Foods that are deep-fried and cooked in trans fats, including fries and donuts, increase the levels of bad cholesterol called low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which can cause heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Elevated cholesterol may damage blood vessels, harming the optic nerve and worsening glaucoma.

• Saturated Fats - Saturated fat is a kind of dietary fat. Along with trans fat, it is one of the bad fats. Foods like red meat, beef, cheese, and oils fall into this category. Saturated fat-rich foods can make an individual gain weight, which can aggravate glaucoma and lead to other eye disorders.

• Coffee - Evidence suggests that coffee elevates IOP and keeps it there for at least ninety minutes. One cup of coffee per day is an appropriate general guideline for patients, as it is unlikely to impact their glaucoma. If they consume a lot of coffee, though, they need to think about decaffeinated coffee. This is crucial for patients who already have a family history of glaucoma.

• Simple Carbohydrates - Bread, potatoes, cereal, rice, pasta, and baked goods are examples of simple carbohydrates. These foods can increase insulin levels, raising blood pressure and IOP. All of this may make glaucoma worse.

• Food Allergens - The most common allergies include cow's milk, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, and sesame. Food allergies may raise the chance of developing glaucoma and act as a trigger. If an individual is allergic to certain foods, they should avoid those that make them sick.

• Water - Staying hydrated is always beneficial to health, but consuming too much of it too quickly can be harmful. Drinking a quart of water quickly can elevate intraocular pressure; it is advisable to consume small amounts of water frequently.

What Food Can Be Beneficial for Individuals With Glaucoma?

Green Leafy Vegetables - It is widely accepted that eating leafy greens is essential for maintaining good health, but glaucoma patients may also benefit from consuming leafy greens in their diet. Dietary nitrates are found in green leafy vegetables. A 20 to 30 percent decreased risk of primary open-angle glaucoma has been linked to dietary nitrate consumption in two major studies investigating the connection between numerous chronic diseases in men and women and nutrition, among other things. Nevertheless, the study simply shows a correlation between the two; it does not demonstrate that eating leafy greens lowers the risk of glaucoma.

• Fruits and Vegetables - Fruits and vegetables are abundant in vitamins A, and C and antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, which are known to protect against oxidative stress linked to damage to the optic nerve and other eye tissues in glaucoma. According to a study, people who ate three or more servings of fruit and vegetables daily had a lower risk of developing glaucoma than those who ate fewer than one. They can help lessen diabetes and heart disease, two conditions that increase the chance of glaucoma.

• Nuts - Nuts and seeds rich in vitamin E, magnesium, and arginine include pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds. These vitamins protect against the development of glaucoma. Vitamin E plays a vital role in keeping cells healthy and protects against free damage that may break down the protective retinal tissue layer in the eye.

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Fish, including salmon, tuna, halibut, and sardines, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Studies suggest that these may help lower the chance of getting eye illness in later life. Eating extra omega-3 fatty acids has also been demonstrated to lower ocular pressure associated with glaucoma.

• Magnesium-Rich Food - Good sources of magnesium include black beans, avocados, bananas, and pumpkin seeds. Studies have shown that dietary magnesium may help glaucoma patients by increasing blood flow to their eyes. Additionally, it may aid in the defense of retinal ganglion cells, which are responsible for processing visual data in the eye and sending it via the optic nerve to the brain.

• Green Tea - A study found that those who drank at least one cup daily had a 74 percent lower chance of acquiring glaucoma than those who did not. Further study is required to comprehend the connections.

• Dark Chocolate - Consuming dark chocolate is thought to be advantageous for those with glaucoma. The increased blood flow resulting from the antioxidants in the chocolate, known as flavanols, could be the reason.

Conclusion

Glaucoma is an eye disorder generally affecting elderly people. It can lead to progressive vision loss. There is no complete cure for glaucoma. However, proper treatment, following a good, nutritious diet, and avoiding foods that trigger glaucoma can prevent its occurrence to a certain extent.