Open angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma and it is primarily present in people who are older than 50. This scary version of glaucoma sets in slowly, but completely without symptoms. Pressure in your eye builds up, but the cornea doesn’t swell. There’s no pain and no symptoms until it’s too late.
You may go see a doctor when blind spots start to occur in your vision, but by then it’s too late to reverse the damage done to the optic nerve. Doctors can only prevent more damage from occurring in the future.
It’s hard to predict who will get glaucoma and who won’t, but there are some common risk factors. Check the following list to see if you might be at risk:
— Being over the age of 60
— Being African-American
— Having a family history of the problem
— Having diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or any
inflammation of the eye
— Suffering an eye injury
— Being nearsighted
— Using corticosteroid medication for a long time
Glaucoma prevention should begin with a healthy diet. Lots of fruits and veggies are needed to keep the eyes healthy. When choosing fruits, don’t forget to include berries on your grocery list. Blueberries, raspberries, and particularly bilberries (if you can find them!) are all excellent for eye health. As far as veggies go, include lots of the brightly colored variety.
If you suspect that you might have the beginnings of glaucoma-like symptoms, here’s some good news. In Nigeria, a plant known as the bitter tomato may be one of the most potent healers of glaucoma that exists. A study has shown that eating 10 grams of fruit from this plant (Solanum melongena) could drastically change functioning inside the eyes. When the fruit was eaten, pupil size and intraocular pressure dropped significantly.
Since glaucoma is a state of raised pressure inside the eye, it is suspected that this bitter fruit could help to control this condition if eaten regularly. More studies need to be done before scientists can be certain this fruit is safe and effective, but it certainly shows a lot of promise.