Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a serious eye
condition characterised by an increase of pressure within the eye ball, called
intraocular pressure. It is similar to high blood pressure in the body. The
condition is therefore, also known as hypertension of the eye. A certain amount
of intraocular pressure is considered necessary, but too much can cause damage
to the eye and may result in vision loss. Glaucoma is the major cause of
blindness among adults today. One out of every eight blind persons is a victim
of glaucoma. Far sighted persons are more prone to develop this disease than
near sighted ones.
Symptoms
The first symptom of glaucoma is the
appearance of halos or coloured rings round distant objects, when seen at
night. In this condition, the iris is usually pushed forward, and the patient often
complains of constant pain in the region of the brow, near the temples and the
cheeks. Headaches are not uncommon. There is gradual impairment of vision as
glaucoma develops, and this may ultimately result in blindness if proper steps
are not taken to deal with the disease in the early stages.
Causes
Medical science regards severe
eye-strain or prolonged working under bad lighting conditions as the chief
causes of glaucoma. But, in reality, the root cause of glaucoma is a highly
toxic condition of the system due to dietetic errors, a faulty life style and
the prolonged use of suppressive drugs for the treatment of other diseases.
Eye-strain is only a contributory factor. Glaucoma is also caused by prolonged
stress and is usually a reaction of adrenal exhaustion. The inability of the
adrenal glands to produce aldosterone results in excessive loss of salt from the
body and a consequent accumulation of fluid in the tissues. In the region of
the eyes, the excess fluid causes the eye ball to harden losing its softness
and resilience. Glaucoma has also been associated with giddiness, sinus
conditions, allergies, diabetes, hypoglycemia, arteriosclerosis and an
imbalance of the autonomic nervous system.
Treatment
The modern medical treatment for
glaucoma is through surgery which relieves the internal pressure in the eye due
to excess fluid. This, however, does not remove the cause of the presence of
the excess fluid. Consequently, even after the operation, there is no guarantee
whatsoever that the trouble will not recur, or that it will not affect the
other eye. The natural treatment for glaucoma is same as that for any other
condition associated with high toxicity and is directed towards preserving
whatever sight remains. If treated in the early stages, the results are
encouraging. Though cases of advanced glaucoma may be beyond a cure, even so
certain nutritional and other biological approaches can prove effective in
controlling the condition and preserving the remaining sight. Certain foodstuff
should be scrupulously avoided by patients suffering from glaucoma. Coffee in particular,
should be completely avoided because of its high caffeine content. Caffeine
causes stimulation of vasoconstrictors, elevating blood pressure and increasing
blood flow to the eye. Bear and tobacco, which can cause constriction of blood
vessels, should also be avoided. Tea should be taken only in moderation. The
patient should not take excessive fluids, whether it is juice, milk or water at
any time. He may drink small amounts several times with at least one hour intervals.
The diet of the patient suffering from
glaucoma should be based on three basic food groups, namely, seeds, nuts and
grains; vegetables and fruit, with emphasis on raw vitamin C-rich foods, fresh
fruits and vegetables. The breakfast may consist of oranges or grapes or any other
juicy fruits in season and a handful of raw nuts or seeds. A raw vegetable
salad with olive oil and lemon juice dressing, two or three whole wheat
chappatis and a glass of buttermilk may be taken for lunch. The dinner may
comprise of steamed vegetables, butter and cottage cheese. Certain nutrients
have been found helpful in the treatment of glaucoma. It has been found that the
glaucoma patients are usually deficient in vitamins A, B, C, protein, calcium
and other minerals. Nutrients such as calcium and B complex have proved
beneficial in relieving the intraocular condition.
Many practitioners believe that
intraocular pressure in glaucoma can be lowered by vitamin C therapy. Dr.
Michele Virno and his colleagues reported recently at a meeting of the Roman
Opthalmological Society in Rome, Italy, that the average person weighing
150 pounds be given 7000 mg. of
ascorbic acid, five daily, acquired acceptable intraocular pressure within 45
days. Symptoms such as mild stomach discomfort and diarrhoea from the large
doses of vitamin C were temporary and soon disappeared. It has also been
suggested that some calcium should always be taken with each dose of ascorbic
acid to minimise any side effects of the large dose.
The patient should undertake various
methods of relaxing and strengthening the eyes. He should avoid emotional
stress and cultivate a tranquil, restful life style. He should also avoid prolonged
straining of the eyes such as occurs during excessive T.V. or movie watching
and excessive reading. The use of sun glasses should be avoided.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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