Save Your Eyesight in 4 Simple Steps

Q: My husband was recently diagnosed with glaucoma, and his doctor is recommending eye drops and maybe even surgery. Both come with numerous side effects. Are there any natural treatments that can help?

–Jack S.

Dr. G.: Unfortunately, your husband is not alone. Glaucoma is the most common eye disease in older people. It is also one of the leading causes of blindness in the world if – and that’s a big IF – it’s left untreated.

Glaucoma is typically caused by increased pressure in the eye. Over time, the pressure damages the optic nerve, which causes the main symptoms of glaucoma, namely loss of peripheral vision.

The key to combating glaucoma is to get ahead of it early.

There’s just one problem… In its early stages, glaucoma produces no symptoms.

That’s why I recommend getting regular eye exams from the time you hit 40—especially if you’re diabetic, have existing eye problems, or have a family history of glaucoma. These are the most common risk factors for glaucoma.

When you get regular eye checkups, your doctor can measure the pressure in your eye. If the pressure starts rising, you can stay ahead of the game by taking steps to lower the pressure before it damages the optic nerve.

In cases where the optic nerve has already become damaged, lowering eye pressure is still key to slowing the progression of glaucoma.

Ultimately, you and your doctor will have to decide if you’re going to use prescription eye drops—or even undergo surgery.

But whatever you decide, there are a few natural ways to lower pressure in the eye.

• The first is to get your insulin levels in check. Insulin can increase the pressure in your eye, so one of the best things you can do for your eyesight (and your health) is to cut out the sugary foods, like sodas, sweets, and bread.

• Exercise has also been found to lower eye pressure and improve blood flow to the retina and optic nerve. In fact, these effects can be achieved by raising your pulse as little as 20 percent. These benefits have been seen in both aerobic and resistance exercise.One form of exercise I DON’T recommend for people with glaucoma is yoga. While yoga has numerous mental and physical benefits for most people, the inversions that are common in yoga can cause as much as a 2-fold increase in eye pressure.

• Take steps to reduce your stress levels. Just as stress is known to increase blood pressure, it increases eye pressure as well.

• Finally, a handful of nutrients have been shown to protect the optic nerve. These include CoQ10, astaxanthin, bilberry, and magnesium. Also, be sure to eat plenty of seafood for the omega 3s.

Thanks for all the great questions. Remember, you can email me at [email protected].