Your eye has pressure just like your blood, and when this intraocular pressure (IOP) increases to dangerous levels, it damages the optic nerve. This can result in decreased peripheral vision and, eventually, blindness. Glaucoma is similar to ocular hypertension but with accompanying optic nerve damage and vision loss.

Your eye has pressure just like your blood, and when this intraocular pressure (IOP) increases to dangerous levels, it damages the optic nerve. This can result in decreased peripheral vision and, eventually, blindness. Glaucoma is similar to ocular hypertension but with accompanying optic nerve damage and vision loss.

An estimated 3 million Americans are affected by glaucoma every year with 120,000 people going blind due to the condition. In other parts of the world, glaucoma treatment is inadequate and the condition is ranked as a leading cause of blindness almost everywhere. For those afflicted that do not become blind, vision can still be severely impaired.

The two major types of glaucoma are: chronic or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and acute closed-angle glaucoma. Other variations include congenital glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma and secondary glaucoma.

Chronic glaucoma (primary open-angle glaucoma or POAG), which normally develops after age 35, is often called "the silent thief of sight" because warning signs are usually non-existent and symptoms are absent. In fact, about 50% of Americans with chronic glaucoma have no idea they have it. With glaucoma, peripheral vision is gradually reduced, but by the time a person actually takes notice to what’s going on, it’s too late. The permanent damage has already taken place.

The eye has pressure just like the blood, and when this intraocular pressure (IOP) increases to dangerous levels, the optic nerve can be damaged. When the IOP remains high, the destruction can progress until tunnel vision develops. The result is that a person’s vision will be limited only be able to objects that are straight ahead.

An acute attack of narrow-angle glaucoma, which is also referred to as acute angle-closure glaucoma or acute closed-angle glaucoma is different than POAG because it is characterized by sudden symptoms such as eye pain, headaches, haloes around lights, dilated pupils, vision loss, red eyes, nausea and vomiting. These signs may last for a few hours and then surface again later on. Every time an attack takes place, part of your field of vision is lost.

Many experts believe glaucoma can be caused by:

Certain Medical Disorders - Diabetes, extreme nearsightedness and previous eye surgery bring with them a high risk of glaucoma.

Ethnic Background - Chronic glaucoma is four times more prevalent in African-Americans than in Caucasians.

Family History. Like so many diseases, glaucoma tends to run in families; different genes, however, are involved in different families.

Aside from the causes listed above, studies have shown that glaucoma is linked to stress, nutritional problems as well as a deficiency in nitrous oxide, which is a molecule essential for healthy blood vessels.

A supplementation program including the following can help greatly in treating glaucoma:

Choline (1,000-2,000 mg daily) - Choline consists of important B vitamins for the eyes & brain.

Essential Fatty Acids (take as directed on label with meals) - These protect and aid in the repair of new tissues & cells.

Gluthathione (50 mg 3 times a day) - this powerful antioxidant protects the lens and maintains the molecular purity of the lens fiber membranes.

Rutin (50 mg 3 times a day) - this important bioflavonoid works with vitamin c and aids in pain reduction and intraocular pressure.

Vitamin A (50,000 IU daily. If pregnant, do not exceed 10,000 iu daily) Plus Carotenoid complex with lutein & Zeaxanthin - Needed for good eye sight and are essential in the formation of visual purple which is the substance necessary for night vision.

Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids (10,000 - 15,000 mg daily in divided doses) - Reduces intraocular pressure.