MUST READ: Preventing and beating glaucoma with nutrition

Everybody is at the risk of glaucoma but some people have higher risk than others. Those who have higher risk of glaucoma are African people, the elderly 60+, heavy users of computer, people with disease conditions like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, progressive myopia, low thyroid function and users of corticosteroids (asthma and arthritis patients). Over 60 million people currently have glaucoma worldwide, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.

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Unfortunately, glaucoma, which is the second major cause of blindness globally, can neither be prevented nor cured medically. That glaucoma defies medical treatment (eye drops and laser and implant surgeries) is undeniable. Tying prevention of glaucoma to regular eye examination as medical doctors often recommend also borders on deceit because eye screening can only detect eye diseases. The big question is: what advantage does early detection of glaucoma, which has no medical cure, afford the patients? There is no tangible gain from the eye examination and early detection of glaucoma, otherwise glaucoma patients will not be losing their sight despite years of diligent application of costly eye drops sometimes complemented with surgery. Rather, each time glaucoma is detected through eye screening, the cash flow of the eye clinics and pharmaceutical companies gets a Big Plus.

But why is glaucoma incurable medically? Conventional treatment of glaucoma only addresses its classical symptom (high ocular pressure) rather than its main trigger and the factors that aggravate it. Other symptoms of glaucoma are eye pain, headache, cloudy or foggy vision, poor night vision and peripheral vision loss. In other words, lowering high pressure in the eyes with eye drops or laser surgery is not only shadow-chasing, it also makes glaucoma fester. As a matter of fact, lack of medical cure for glaucoma and other degenerative diseases validates the fact that no disease can be prevented or cured without fully understanding its aetiology.

What then is the aetiology of glaucoma? Glaucoma is a degenerative eye disease triggered by improper protein metabolism rooted in poor gut function. Poor digestion of protein due to low stomach acids deprives the central nervous system (brain, nerves, spinal cord and the eyes) amino acids and other key nutrients needed for production of neurotransmitters to conduct nerve impulses. The central nervous system degenerates and malfunctions without adequate protein in absorbable form.

The dysfunctions of the liver, pancreas and stomach are active players in the poor gut function. How? Low level of hydrochloric acid in the stomach impairs digestion and assimilation of protein. While HCL does not digest protein, its role is to activate the chief cells in the middle portion of the stomach to start secreting a protein-digesting enzyme known as pepsin. What is the physiological effect of poor digestion? The body system is crippled by food that is not completely digested. With respect to glaucoma, the brain, nerves and the eyes are deprived adequate supply of amino acids needed to function optimally. Besides amino acids, low stomach acid also causes poor absorption of fats and minerals including iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium and B vitamins particularly B12 associated with anaemia, blurred vision, double vision, swelling of optic nerve and optic neuropathy.

Liver produces 80 per cent of amino acids needed by the central nervous system to work efficiently but its dysfunction makes this impossible. Fatty liver can also obstruct blood flow to the brain, eyes, heart and the kidneys.

Pancreas produces digestive enzymes that help digest protein aside from its more popular role of producing insulin for glucose metabolism. But poor pancreatic function characterised by low production of digestive enzymes impairs digestion and assimilation of protein.

In specific terms, deficiency of amino acids and some key nutrients due to improper       protein metabolism causes fluid retention in the eyes and elevates ocular pressure. Without correcting poor gut function often exacerbated by aging and certain medications, the build-up of fluid in the eyes and the resultant ‘ocular hypertension’ progressively damage the retina cells, optic nerve and the visual field.

Besides poor gut function, underactive thyroid gland also contributes to the prognosis of glaucoma in four ways. One, low thyroid function slows down metabolism and impairs digestion of foods and assimilation of nutrients. Two, low thyroid function weakens the heart’s capacity to avail the tissues including the eyes adequate blood and oxygen. After all, vascular problem is a factor in all eye diseases. Three, low thyroid function impairs the health and functions of the brain and the eyes. Four, low thyroid function causes fluid retention in tissues including the eyes, thus raising ocular pressure.

The combined effects of poor gut function and low thyroid function trigger inflammation and insulin resistance, which fuel the insidious progression of glaucoma. Inflammation weakens the heart by causing hardening of the arteries and veins while insulin resistance induces vasoconstriction of capillary vessels in the brain and the eyes. Unabated inflammation and insulin resistance progressively reduce the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain and the eyes, causing hypoxia (low oxygen), degeneration and death of retina cells and optic nerve. Blindness is the ultimate consequence of these systemic dysfunctions.

In effect, glaucoma is not primarily an eye problem, but a manifestation of abnormal neuro-circulatory function induced by poor gut function, improper protein metabolism and underactive thyroid gland.

A new book has clearly articulated nutritional protocols to prevent and beat glaucoma based on the full understanding of its aetiology. Dietary measures in the book include how to correct poor gut function, fuel the liver for optimal function and eliminate systemic disorders that fuel insidious progression of glaucoma like inflammation, insulin resistance, underactive thyroid gland, dehydration, acidic pH and anaemia. The book also explains why glaucoma cannot be overcome without red meat and adequate intake of good fats. Other highlights of the book include effective detoxification methods, anti-glaucoma teas, pancreas restorer, dietary and lifestyle factors that aggravate glaucoma and Catch- 22 to unknot the dilemma of protein and glaucoma. What is this dilemma? Protein-rich foods aggravate glaucoma. Ironically, glaucoma cannot be mitigated or cured without adequate intake of protein. Get a copy of the book, read it and apply its science validated contents to keep glaucoma at bay or restore, improve and preserve your vision, if you have glaucoma that has not caused blindness.

- Tunde Fabunmi/PUNCH

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