Glaucoma Home Remedies - How to Get Rid of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye diseases. Glaucoma leads to blindness by damaging the optic nerve. Glaucoma has been nicknamed "the silent sight thief". Most people with glaucoma have increased fluid pressure in the eye, a condition known as increased intraocular pressure. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the US. There are four major types of glaucoma First is Open angle (chronic) glaucoma. Second is angle closure (acute) glaucoma. Third is congenital glaucoma and last secondary glaucoma. All four types of glaucoma are characterized by increased pressure within the eyeball, and therefore all can cause progressive damage to the optic nerve. Open angle (chronic) glaucoma is by far the most common type of glaucoma. The front part of the eye is filled with a clear fluid called the aqueous humor. This fluid is constantly made in the back of the eye. It leaves the eye through channels in the anterior (front) chamber of the eye, and eventually drains into the bloodstream. The channels that drain the aqueous humor are in an area called the anterior chamber angle, or simply the angle. In open angle glaucoma, the channels in the angle gradually narrow with time, making it hard for the fluid to drain properly. The buildup of fluid causes increased pressure in the eye. This increased pressure pushes on the junction of the optic nerve and the retina at the back of the eye, reducing the blood supply to the optic nerve. Open angle glaucoma tends to run in families. People of African descent are at particularly high risk for this disease.

Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises. Eye needs a certain amount of pressure to keep the eyeball in shape so that it can work properly. In some people, the damage is caused by raised eye pressure. Eye pressure is largely independent of blood pressure. Angle-closure glaucoma or acute closed-angle glaucoma , produces sudden symptoms such as eye pain, headaches, haloes around lights, dilated pupils, vision loss, red eyes, nausea and vomiting. Other signs include headaches, blurred vision, difficulty adapting to darkness, or haloes around lights. Chronic glaucoma normally develops after age 35. Angle closure (acute) glaucoma is caused by a shift in the position of the iris of the eye that suddenly blocks the exit of the aqueous humor fluid. This causes a quick, severe, and painful rise in the pressure within the eye (intraocular pressure). Secondary glaucoma is caused by other diseases, including eye diseases such as uveitis , systemic diseases, and drugs such as corticosteroids. Congenital glaucoma, which is present at birth, is the result of abnormal development of the fluid outflow channels of the eye. Congenital glaucoma is often hereditary. Medicines, in the form of eyedrops or pills, are the most common early treatment for glaucoma. Some medicines cause the eye to make less fluid. Others lower pressure by helping fluid drain from the eye. Laser trabeculoplasty helps fluid drain out of the eye. Conventional surgery makes a new opening for the fluid to leave the eye.

Home Remedies for Glaucoma

• Certain foodstuffs should be scrupulously avoided by patients suffering from glaucoma. Coffee in particular should be completely avoided because of its high caffeine content.
• Certain nutrients have been found helpful in the treatment of glaucoma. It has been found that the glaucoma patients are usually deficient in Vitamin A, B, C, protein, calcium and other minerals.
• Take eyebright and fennel in capsule form to increase eyesight and to combat cataracts and glaucoma.