Dr. Grossman’s Blog

Those who use computers heavily are at greater risk for glaucoma than the general public, particularly those who are short-sighted. Glaucoma is an insidious disease characterized by the decrease of peripherial vision eventually leading to severe vision loss.

A 2004 cross-sectional study in 9124 Japanese workers indicated that there was a possible association between heavy computer users and glaucomatous visual field abnormalities. In other words – people who computers heavily (ie. programmers, software engineers, gamers) could be jeopardizing their sight.

The study looked at typical daily computer use, as well as long-term computer use history. More than 500 participants (5.4%) had problems with peripheral vision. Of that group, one third were found to have glaucoma … perhaps more than a third, since some workers with peripheral vision problems didn’t receive all the testing to accurately diagnose glaucoma.

Still, it may not be necessary to quit your day job or to give up your favorite hobby.  Glaucoma can be prevented.  Changes in diet and lifestyle can reduce your risk of glaucoma and other eye diseases and improve your overall health.  For more details, please visit our pages on glaucoma prevention.

A new study has found that common vision problems known as refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism) affect half the adult U.S population.

The study authors, led by Susan Vitale of the U.S. National Eye Institute, analyzed data collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In this study an autorefractor was used to obtain refractive error data on a nationally representative sample of 12,010 adults in the U.S. population between 1999 and 2004.

Of the participants (all aged 20 or older), researchers found:

• 3.6% had hyperopia (farsightedness),
• 33.1% had myopia (nearsightedness), and
• 36.1% had astigmatism (an irregular corneal curve)

Other findings:

Glaucoma is the result of damage to the optic nerve, often caused by increased pressure in the eye (“intraocular pressure”). This can happen when extra fluid builds up inside the eye (the eye makes too much fluid or does not drain well), and may happen after an eye injury, after eye surgery, or due to an eye tumor. Studies also indicate a possible link between heavy computer use and glaucoma, especially for computer users farsighted or nearsighted to begin with. Also, some medicines, such as corticosteroids used to treat other diseases may cause glaucoma.

Studies conducted at the University of Melbourne, Australia, in 2007 suggest that adding Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet can reduce the excessive intraocular pressure that causes most glaucoma.

In laboratory experiments groups of rats were raised on diets that contained sufficient or deficient amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 rich diet contained (in a 5.5/1/.5 ratio):

• Safflower oil
• Flaxseed oil
• Tuna oil

The omega-3 deficient diet contained:

• Safflower oil only

Those rats raised on high omega-3 diets had a 13% decrease in intraocular pressure at 40 weeks of age. This lower pressure in the omega-3-rich group was associated with an increase in aqueous humor outflow—that fluid occupying the space between the crystalline lens and the cornea of the eye—and a decrease in ocular rigidity.

These results suggest that increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids over time, can reduce intraocular pressures that may cause glaucoma.

Note: Glaucoma can be difficult to detect until a significant amount of vision is lost. Most individuals with undiagnosed glaucoma do not suffer any symptoms, not even a reduction in peripheral vision. Regular eye exams should be utilized to detect potential problems.

Read what others say about natural products that help glaucoma.

Resources:
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Feb; 48(2):756-62. Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.