Jan
23
2010
New study shows smokers have increase risk of getting glaucoma. Specifically, inflammation and apoptosis marker levels increase with smoking in the aqueous humor and plasma samples of POAG women. Smoking could be an important additional risk factor for glaucoma progression in elderly women.
SOURCE: Zanon-Moreno V, Garcia-Medina JJ, Zanon-Viguer V, et al. Smoking, an additional risk factor in elder women with primary open-angle glaucoma. Mol Vis 2009;15:2953-2959.
Editor’s Note: Chronic inflammation and related cell death (apoptosis) due to smoking is implicated in many chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, macuclar degeneration and cancer. Eye disease is often related to poor circulation, chronic systemic inflammation and/or the lack of availability of nutrients. For more related information, go to
www.naturaleyecare.com
Dec
18
2008
At the American Glaucoma Society meeting, Dr. JoAnn A. Giaconi reported that women who reported eating greater amounts of fruits and vegetables appeared to have a lower likelihood of developing glaucoma.
The foods that seemed especially protective included fresh oranges, peaches, spinach, collard greens, and kale.
Dr. Giaconi presented results from a review of data from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. In this study involving a subset of 584 black women, glaucoma was diagnosed in at least one eye in 77 participants. Disc photos and suprathreshold visual fields were evaluated in conjunction with Block Food Frequency Questionnaires on the participants’daily food consumption.
The results?
- Eating three or more servings of fruit or fruit juices daily decreased the odds of black women developing glaucoma by 79%
- Eating one serving of collard greens or kale decreased the odds of glaucoma by 57%
- Eating more than two servings per week of fresh oranges and peaches also significantly decreased the chance of developing glaucoma.
Researchers believe that the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables (vitamin A, alpha- and beta-carotene, folate, lutein, zeaxanthin) can potentially block oxidation stress that can lead to cell damage in glaucoma.
Read other studies about the benefits of consuming antioxidants
SOURCE: Giaconi JA, et al. Nutritional associations with glaucoma among older black women. Paper presented at: The 18th Annual AGS Meeting; March 8, 2008; Washington, DC.
