Perceive the Dangers for Glaucoma

Our eyes ship info to our brains in a break up second, serving to us make vital 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 Main Explanation for Blindness

There are nearly no early warning indicators, so many individuals don’t know they’ve glaucoma. That’s why it’s referred to as the sneak thief of sight. It’s the second main explanation for blindness on the planet and impacts greater than three million folks in the US.

January is Glaucoma Consciousness Month, so it’s an vital 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 sort of glaucoma. Over time, fluid slowly builds up within the entrance of the attention. If it doesn’t drain correctly, eye strain will increase, damaging the optic nerve. The principle signal of any such glaucoma is the lack of peripheral (or facet) imaginative and prescient. Individuals typically don’t discover this imaginative and prescient loss till the illness is extra superior. There’s at present no treatment and no approach to reverse imaginative and prescient loss attributable to glaucoma.

What are the chance components for creating glaucoma?

Individuals of all ages are in danger for creating glaucoma. In some uncommon instances, infants may be born with it. Sure individuals are at a greater threat 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 strain your optic nerve can face up to are additionally components that contribute to your threat for creating glaucoma.

Can glaucoma be prevented?

There isn’t a approach to forestall glaucoma, however there are methods to assist decelerate the development of the illness and cease it from damaging your eyes. The most effective methods is to get common dilated eye exams.

Such a examination opens your pupil, which lets the attention physician study the optic nerves behind your eyes and verify the pressures in every eye. Your physician will help you perceive your private dangers for creating glaucoma and the way typically you need to get checked.

Eat Proper to Shield Your Eyesight

Consuming a weight-reduction plan wealthy in nutritional vitamins C, E, and A, and antioxidants like zinc is key to enhancing eye well being. Embody these energy meals in your day by day menu:

• Oranges, berries, tomatoes, and peppers (vitamin C)
• Inexperienced 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 rooster (zinc)

Along with weight-reduction plan, common train will help you keep a wholesome blood strain and defend your eyes in opposition to injury that causes imaginative and prescient loss.

On the subject of your well being, it pays to maintain your eyes on the prize — years of seeing our lovely world clearly.

This text is informational and never supposed to offer medical recommendation. Speak to your physician about your private well being historical past and preventive care wants.