Glaucoma

Glaucoma is defined as a collection of diseases that causes optic nerve damage.

Open Angle or Chronic Glaucoma is the most common type. This responds well to nutritional intervention as per our recommendations.

Narrow Angle Glaucoma is an ocular emergency. The symptoms can be a sudden, painful red eye, nausea, vomiting, headache and visual halos. In the event of the symptoms above seek medical help immediately.

Low Tension Glaucoma is usually a sign of poor circulation. Heart problems, brain tumours, or toxic drugs can all produce optic nerve damage that may present as glaucoma, as well as genetics and other less serious factors. It is therefore important to get this checked out right away, and if you are known to be susceptible, to have regular eye checks.

Secondary Glaucoma develops secondarily to other conditions. For example, due to inflammation, injury, blood in the eye, or drug side effects (such as from steroids). A Natural Health Doctor or other appropriate health professional is recommended for diagnosis and appropriate treatment

Glaucoma Suspects are people with higher than normal eye pressure but never develop glaucoma. These people should be monitored regularly. This responds well to nutritional intervention as per our recommendations.

Congenital Glaucoma may occur in the first few months of life. A Natural Health Doctor or other appropriate health professional is recommended for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Causes of Glaucoma can include:

• High level of stress, resultin in poor breathing, digestion and comfort eating.
• Bad diet, from starchy foods (bread, pastry, biscuits, and breakfast cereals. These all cause high level of glucose in the bloodstream.
• Nutritional deficiencies, often from important nutrients including essential fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, taurine, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B-complex.
• Drugs (mostly prescribed drugs), which will have side effects, e.g. antibiotics being a prime culprit in poor digestion due to the killing of important stomach flora that inhibits Taurine, an important amino acid in the eye.
• Family history of Glaucoma, including genetics, or simply living the same lifestyle.
• Other chronic diseases, which can raise IOP, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hyperthyroid disease.
• Being African-American (glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among this population.)
• Extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness (known to have a higher level of risk of angle closure).
• Steroid use, often in the form of eye drops, nose drops or inhalants (elevates IOP mildly in approximately 16% of people).

Symptoms of Open-Angle Glaucoma typically have little or no warning signs as it develops slowly. If at risk, therefore, it is important to have regular checks, as otherwise, by the time a patient is aware of vision loss, the disease may be quite advanced.

Angle-closure glaucoma is caused by blocked drainage canals in the eye, resulting in a sudden rise in intraocular pressure.

Symptoms of Angle-Closure Glaucoma include:

• Hazy or blurred vision
• The appearance of rainbow-colored circles around bright lights
• Severe eye and head pain
• Nausea or vomiting (accompanying severe eye pain)
• Sudden sight loss

In Glaucoma, fluid is not draining properly from the Canal of Schlemm, and this builds up pressure. Vision begins to fail, resulting in loss of small areas of peripheral vision (blind spots). During acute attacks, blurred vision or halos around lights is possible. HealthPoint has the potential to help clear these blockages, along with treating other pathways related to some of the other causes. Regular use could help to prevent the disease along with other lifestyle, nutritional, and treatment factors.