Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a slowly progressing disease that causes damage to the eye's optic nerve and can result in blindness. Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease, affects about three million Americans. It is the leading cause of blindness for African-Americans. Because there are usually no symptoms at first, half of the people with this disease don't know they have it. With early treatment, serious vision loss and blindness can usually be prevented.

Signs and Symptoms

While symptoms do not initially occur, as the disease progresses, you can lose peripheral (side) vision and then forward vision. Some signs can only be found during an eye exam, such as increased pressure inside the eye and optic nerve abnormalities.

What Causes It?

A clear fluid flows in and out of the space at the front of the eye, nourishing nearby tissues. Glaucoma causes the fluid to pass through too slowly or to stop draining altogether. As the fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye increases, causing damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.

Who's Most At Risk?

People with the following conditions or characteristics are at risk for glaucoma:

• Over 60 years of age
• Family history
• African-American descent
• Diabetes
• Myopia (near-sightedness)
• Taking certain drugs, such as antihistamines or blood pressure medications
• Food sensitivities
• Stress
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Hypothyroidism

Surgical and Other Procedures

While glaucoma surgery may save remaining vision, it does not improve sight.

• Laser surgery -- makes 50 - 100 evenly spaced burns that stretch the drainage holes in the eye, allowing fluid to drain more efficiently
• Conventional surgery -- creates a new channel for fluid to drain from the eye

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

A comprehensive treatment plan for glaucoma may include a range of complementary and alternative therapies.

However, glaucoma should only be treated by a qualified ophthalmologist. Use alternative medicine as support

for a healthy body.

Lifestyle

Nutritional tips include the following:

• Eliminate all suspected food allergens, including dairy (milk, cheese, and eggs), wheat (gluten), soy, corn, preservatives and food additives. Your health care provider may want to test you for food allergies.
• Eat more antioxidant-rich foods (such as green, leafy vegetables and peppers) and fruits (such as blueberries, tomatoes, and cherries).
• Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
• Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy) or beans for protein.
• Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in such commercially baked goods as cookies, crackers,

cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.

• Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
• Exercise moderately, if tolerated, 5 days a week.

Suggested Nutritional Supplementation

• Visio PlexTM - 8 capsules daily with food.

Nutrients and Herbs to Nourish the Eyes

• Wellness EssentialsTM Cardiovascular Support - 2 packets daily

Wellness Essentials Cardiovascular Support is a combination of essential vitamins and minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and phytonutrients to promote healthy cardiovascular function and overall well- being.

Dietary Suggestions

• FirstLine Therapy® Diet