Just What Is Glaucoma And What Are The Symptoms?

You may already know that glaucoma is a disease of the eye that is very serious, but if you're unsure of just what the disease actually is and what the symptoms are to look for, you're not alone. As serious as this eye disease is, many people simply are unaware of the symptoms or even what it means to have glaucoma. Since it is something that can lead to loss of peripheral vision and even blindness, and since about 1 in 200 people under the age of fifty and 1 in 10 over the age of eighty actually get this disease, it's a good idea to learn more about it.

To better understand the disease of glaucoma, we do well to think about how the eye is structured in the first place. Behind the actual eyeball that we can see is a series of nerves that translate the light we take in through the eye into electrical impulses that then travel to the brain. The brain descrambles these impulses and reads them as sight. These nerves are as important to sight as the eyeball itself. Remember, all of our senses actually function in the brain; our eyes, ears, tongue, nose, and skin only act as receptors for the signals that travel along the nerve pathways to be translated into sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Just like a deaf person can have two perfectly good ears, damage to the nerve cells behind any of our sensory organs can result in a loss of that particular sense. The word glaucoma is applied to a wide range of diseases that affect these nerve endings behind the eyeball itself.

Typically the disease is brought on by continued pressure on the nerve, but this pressure itself is no exact indication of who exactly will eventually contract glaucoma and who will not. Some seem to be very sensitive to this nerve pressure while others seem to have a high tolerance level for it. So, this pressure itself is not an exact indication of contracting glaucoma or not.

The fluid in the eye is called aqueous humor and drains out of the eye through a network of drainage tissue between the iris and the cornea. In people with glaucoma this drainage tissue becomes blocked and fluid is replaced faster that it can be drained. This caused pressure to build up in the eye causing the blood vessels that nourish the eye with essential nutrients and oxygen to become constricted which cause the nerve fibers to die.

When left untreated, any form of glaucoma will lead to permanent damage of these optic nerves which will in turn lead to blindness. Typically this starts with a minor loss of peripheral vision but can lead to permanent cloudiness of vision. Unfortunately, glaucoma can develop slowly over several years so that the patient is unaware that he or she even has the disease until it cannot be corrected.

It's important to get regular eye exams even if you don't have problems with your vision. Your optometrist can give your eyes a thorough exam and be aware of any symptoms of the onset of glaucoma. This condition can typically be treated with medication before blindness sets in or permanent damage is done, so it's good to be vigilant about eye exams.

Common vitamins and over the counter products can help with glaucoma such as Vitamin C, Ginkgo, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Beta Carotene, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Multiple Mineral, Herbal Diuretic.

Vitamin C has been shown to dramatically reduce the interocular pressure in patients suffering from glaucoma.

Ginkgo is needed for the proper functioning of the vascular system and improves blood circulation to the brain.

Vitamin A is important for the proper development of the eyes.

Vitamin D plays an important in nerve and muscle function.

Beta Carotene helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation and the body converts beta carotene into vitamin A.

Vitamin B is needed for healthy blood vessels and the proper functioning of the nervous system.

Vitamin E promotes the healing process of the body.

Multiple Mineral are required for healthy bones, teeth, muscles, blood and nerve cells.

There are several Herbal Diuretic on the market that will help the body to reduce excess body fluids.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.