In the News: All About Glaucoma – Part II

(continued from Part I…)

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

To diagnose glaucoma complete eye examination is recommended which involves measuring eye pressure, inspecting the eye’s drainage angle, examining the optic nerve, testing vision, getting measurements of optic nerve, and measuring the thickness of cornea.

How is glaucoma treated?

Treatment aims at reducing the intraocular pressure and preventing further damage to the optic nerves. Intraocular pressure can be reduced by increasing the drainage of excess eye fluid or reducing its production through medications.

Is there a diet you should follow or foods you should avoid if you have glaucoma?

Foods to eat:

• Iron rich foods such as spinach
• Vitamin A containing foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, mangoes and milk
• Protein rich foods such as eggs, milk
• Zinc-rich foods such as green peas, eggs, wheat germ, chickpeas, oyster, red meat, poultry and certain seafood
• Foods rich in vitamin C like green pepper, citrus fruits and tomatoes 

Foods to avoid:

• Foods with trans fatty acids like cookies, cakes and french fries
• Foods with high saturated fats like full fat meat (beef)
• Foods/drinks with caffeine like coffee
• Avoid alcohol