The relationship between diet and health has been widely heralded in recent years for keeping many conditions in check, from diabetes and macular degeneration to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. While a healthy diet “isn’t a magic bullet and can’t prevent glaucoma, there are benefits to eating certain foods and avoiding others.” The Glaucoma Foundation offers some food choices for individuals who are living with glaucoma to consider. Here are a few:
Fruits and Vegetables: These foods contain vitamins A and C and antioxidants that can protect against the “oxidative stress” connected with damage to the optic nerve of the eye in glaucoma.
Nuts: Nuts and seeds contain vitamin E, which helps to keep cells healthy and protects against damage to the eye’s retinal tissue.
Fish: Fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, and halibut are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and may help to prevent eye disease among older adults, according to research studies. Foods with omega-3s have also been shown to decrease glaucoma-related eye pressure.
Chocolate: Chocolate lovers may revel in the results of a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology, finding that two hours after eating dark chocolate, adults could see better, “possibly due to enhanced blood flow” from the antioxidants found in the treat.
Read more about these and other tips, including what foods to avoid or limit, in Glaucoma and Nutrition: Why What You Eat Matters.
