Our eyes ship data to our brains in a break up second, serving to us make necessary choices to navigate the world round us. Glaucoma is a illness that damages the optic nerve — the communication “cable” between the eyes and mind.
Glaucoma Is a Leading Cause of Blindness
There are nearly no early warning indicators, so many individuals don’t know they’ve glaucoma. That’s why it’s often known as the sneak thief of sight. It is the second main explanation for blindness on this planet and impacts greater than three million folks within the United States.
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, so it’s an necessary time to study your dangers for creating this illness and what you are able to do to assist forestall imaginative and prescient loss.
What causes glaucoma?
Open-angle (wide-angle) is the most typical kind of glaucoma. Over time, fluid slowly builds up within the entrance of the attention. If it doesn’t drain correctly, eye stress will increase, damaging the optic nerve. The essential signal of such a glaucoma is the lack of peripheral (or facet) imaginative and prescient. People typically don’t discover this imaginative and prescient loss till the illness is extra superior. There is at present no remedy and no method to reverse imaginative and prescient loss brought on by glaucoma.
What are the danger elements for creating glaucoma?
People of all ages are in danger for creating glaucoma. In some uncommon circumstances, infants will be born with it. Certain persons are at a increased danger than others, together with those that:
- Are age 60 or older
- Are Black, Asian, or Hispanic (Black folks typically develop it at a youthful age)
- Have a household historical past of glaucoma
- Have hypertension or diabetes
- Are nearsighted (capable of see issues clearly provided that they’re near the eyes)
Your eye form and the way a lot stress your optic nerve can face up to are additionally elements that contribute to your danger for creating glaucoma.
Can glaucoma be prevented?
There isn’t any method to forestall glaucoma, however there are methods to assist decelerate the development of the illness and cease it from damaging your eyes. One of the perfect methods is to get common dilated eye exams.
This kind of examination opens your pupil, which lets the attention physician look at the optic nerves behind your eyes and test the pressures in every eye. Your physician might help you perceive your private dangers for creating glaucoma and the way typically it is best to get checked.
Eat Right to Protect Your Eyesight
Eating a weight loss plan wealthy in nutritional vitamins C, E, and A, and antioxidants like zinc is key to enhancing eye well being. Include these energy meals in your day by day menu:
- Oranges, berries, tomatoes, and peppers (vitamin C)
- Green leafy greens like spinach and kale, nuts, seafood, and avocado (vitamin E)
- Carrots, candy potatoes, and broccoli (vitamin A)
- Eggs, complete cereals, and lean meats like hen (zinc)
In addition to weight loss plan, common train might help you keep a wholesome blood stress and defend your eyes in opposition to injury that causes imaginative and prescient loss.
When it involves your well being, it pays to maintain your eyes on the prize — years of seeing our stunning world clearly.
This article is informational and never meant to supply medical recommendation. Talk to your physician about your private well being historical past and preventive care wants.