Want to avoid glaucoma? What you eat can help

MONDAY, Jan. 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Eat right to protect your eyesight.

This is the advice of the Glaucoma Research Foundation, which offers it a recipe for healthier eyes.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause progressive vision loss by optic nerve damage. It is the second leading cause of blindness.

As with other health problems, good nutrition can make a difference your eyes, notes the foundation.

Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamins A and C, as well as the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. They can protect against oxidative stress associated with damage to the optic nerve and other eye tissues in glaucoma. A study involving 584 black women found that those who consumed three or more servings of fruit or juice a day were 79% less likely to have glaucoma than those who had less than one.

Leafy greens are one of those vegetables to focus on. Research has shown a link between cabbage and spinach consumption and a reduced risk of glaucoma, the foundation said. Consumption of leafy vegetables is also associated with lower rates of inflammation, cancer, heart disease, and even eye disorders, macular degeneration.

Nuts and seeds are good sources of vitamin E, important for maintaining cell health and protecting against free radical damage, which can break down the protective tissue of the retina, the foundation said.

It also suggests fish, especially salmon, tuna, sardines and sea bass, which have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to lower eye pressure associated with glaucoma.

And drink a cup while you’re at it. A study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that people who drank at least one cup of hot tea a day reduced their risk of glaucoma by 74% compared to those who did not.

The foundation also proposed chocolate, bananas, avocados, pumpkin seeds and black beans for their health benefits.

People already living with glaucoma should avoid foods that contribute to metabolic syndrome, obesity, blood pressure problems and diabetes. A diet that helps maintain normal blood pressure and blood sugar helps reduce the risk of glaucoma, the foundation says.

Consuming a healthy calorie count and limiting carbs can also have eye benefits, is added.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on that glaucoma.

SOURCE: Glaucoma Research Foundation, press release, January 4, 2022.