Glaucoma is the damaging of the optic nerve, which serves as one of the main links between the brain and the eye. Glaucoma damages the eyes rather fast. Most of the victims lose their vision before even noticing any problems with the eyes. Primary open-angle glaucoma happens to be the most common type of glaucoma that a glaucoma eye doctor can help you detect. In this type, the fluid in the eye fails to drain properly. The pressure goes up inside the eye and ends up damaging the optic nerve.
This type of glaucoma normally steals your peripheral vision. So, you won’t notice any changes in your vision right away. Over time, this is going to impact your vision, and you are going to lose your central vision. You cannot recover the lost vision due to glaucoma. No remedy has been found to stop glaucoma from developing entirely. However, there are ways one can prevent oneself and their loved ones from serious blindness and vision loss.
The Key to Glaucoma Prevention:
As stated above, there are no known ways to prevent this disease. However, one can reduce the risk of experiencing significant vision loss from the disease by seeing a glaucoma specialist in Dubai in the early stages.
In primary open-angle glaucoma, the vision loss occurs silently and slowly. However, one of the best forms of prevention against this eye disease is regular eye exams. Early detection, along with careful treatment helps in maintaining vision in most people.
This is how you should be getting it checked up by an eye specialist:
- Every two to four years before age 40
- Every one to three years from 40 years to 54 years.
- Every 1 to 2 years from age 55 to 64.
- Half-yearly or annually after age 65.
Those with high-risk factors should be tested one to two years after 35. People with diabetes, of African descent, and those with a history of running in the family are more at risk of getting this disease. The risk increases if you have a sibling with glaucoma.
Tips for Lowering Your Risk of Glaucoma:
Medical experts recommend a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, and a nutritious diet helpful for boosting your mental and physical well-being. Your mental or emotional health is equally important.
Boosting General Physical Well-being
Here is how you can bring significant improvement in your health:
- See that you maintain a healthy weight.
- Try to keep your blood pressure at a normal level as well as any other medical conditions you may be suffering from.
- If you smoke, try to avoid it as much as you can.
- See that you limit your caffeine intake as well. High amounts of caffeine increase eye pressure by several points. This could last for 90 minutes. If you are a coffee lover, consider switching to decaffeinated, and consume it in moderate amounts.
- Try to catch some daily exercise like walking, swimming, gardening.
- Avoid overexposure to the sunlight. Wear hats and sunglasses on sunny days.
- Be regular in your eye exams. Go to your doctor if you notice any changes in your vision.
- Take prescribed eye drops.
Food To Improve And Support Eye Health:
Here are some of the foods that help to boost your vision health:
Eat Dark Green, Orange, and Yellow Fruits and Veggies:
These foods help in defending against numerous medical conditions including glaucoma. They contain carotenoids. Dark and leafy green vegetables contain lutein and zeaxanthin that are great for vision health. They are also found in yellow corn, mango, green and lima beans, sweet potatoes, and egg yolks.
Foods Rich in Vitamin C:
For better eye vision, eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in Vitamin C. These contain food items broccoli, citrus fruits, green peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, along with both sweet and white potatoes. Cantaloupe and leafy greens have Vitamin C as well.
Foods Rich in Vitamin E:
Eggs, fruit, fortified cereals, green leafy vegetables, nuts and nuts oil, wheat germ, and whole grains are great sources of Vitamin E.
Foods Rich in Vitamin A:
This vitamin is found in carrots, egg yolks, milk, mangoes, liver, and sweet potatoes.
Foods Rich in Vitamin D:
Cod liver oil, cereal, egg yolks, fortified milk, and oily fish are the main sources of vitamin D.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
These are essential for good vision and overall health. Eat chia and flax seeds along with salmon, sardines, and walnuts.
Foods Containing Zinc:
Zinc is great for the body as well. The main sources of having zinc are beans, dairy products, fortified breakfast cereals, oysters, poultry, some seafood, whole grains, and red meat.
Incorporating these food items in your diet would not only maintain eye health but reduce the chances of glaucoma symptoms from surfacing.
