Surprising Myths about Glaucoma
Marijuana ? Yoga ? Kale ?
Surprising Myths about Glaucoma
Courtesy Key-Whitman Eye Center
One of the leading causes of preventable blindness in the world is
Glaucoma .
Fortunately , when glaucoma is diagnosed and treated early , vision loss can be prevented . A healthy diet and exercise can also help ; however , some myths regarding certain lifestyle choices can be more harmful than beneficial .
Key-Whitman Eye Center ’ s Arlington ophthalmologist Ronald M . Barke shared his insight on what people should and shouldn ’ t do when it comes to managing glaucoma . Here are some of his recommendations :
DO see your eye doctor regularly if you ’ re at increased risk for glaucoma . According to Dr . Barke , age is the most important risk factor for glaucoma , but it isn ’ t the only one . As he explains , “ Family history certainly plays a role , as do certain medical conditions , including diabetes , cardiovascular disease , hypertension and rheumatologic conditions . Unhealthy eating , poor exercise habits and some certain lifestyle choices can also contribute to the disease .”
If you ’ re at risk , it ’ s very important to have an eye doctor regularly monitor the health of the eye , because glaucoma is a silent disease . The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is through an eye exam .
“ Glaucoma is a condition where damage occurs to the optic nerve in the back of the eyes , primarily due to pressure to the optic nerve . However , glaucoma is similar to blood pressure , in that you can ’ t feel the pressure . So , by the time you start losing vision , and notice you have a problem , it ’ s too late ,” Dr . Barke says .
DON ’ T smoke marijuana . Roseanne Barr and Whoopi Goldberg and other celebrities have touted the use of marijuana for their glaucoma treatment . But Dr . Barke says , not so fast .
As he explains , “ One of the theories as to why some people ’ s glaucoma progresses is because they have wide fluctuations in intraocular pressure throughout the day and from day to day . If you use a treatment that lowers pressure for a short duration , as marijuana does , your pressure could rebound right back up , and that could make the glaucoma worse .”
DO eat right . It ’ s common knowledge that eating healthy food is good for you , and current studies suggest eating certain foods can lower the risk for glaucoma by as much as 20 to 30 percent . “ Foods like leafy greens that are plentiful in antioxidants and healthy dietary
nitrates may help deter glaucoma ,” says Dr . Barke .
DO keep moving . As with other health conditions , an active lifestyle can reduce the risk of glaucoma for some people . In fact , researchers at the University of California Los Angeles who reviewed longterm data on American adults found that , “ the most physically active folks were 73 percent less likely to develop glaucoma than the least active individuals . For each 10-minute increase in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a week , the risk of glaucoma fell by 25 percent .”
DON ’ T do yoga or inversion therapy . Yoga offers many health benefits and inversion therapy – hanging upside down by the ankles or feet – can do wonders for the back . “ Unfortunately , people with glaucoma should avoid activities that cause blood to rush to the head and increase pressure in the eyes , which is bad for glaucoma ,” warns Dr . Barke .
If you ’ re at risk for glaucoma , we can help .
As with most eye diseases and conditions , early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma is key for preventing vision
6 DALLAS COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MARCH / APRIL 2018