Glaucoma-Specialist.com

Mr P.H. Galloway, FRCOphth; Mr C. Burnett, FRCOphth; Eye Surgery in Yorkshire

Glaucoma and diet

There are many advantages to eating a healthy diet. In the long-term this may affect your risk of cardiovascular disease, which in turn is indirectly linked to glaucoma. There is little evidence that suggests that any dietary supplementation affects the course of glaucoma. There are hundreds of randomised controlled trials (the gold standard in scientific research) that demonstrate the benefit of glaucoma medications in controlling eye pressure, but there is no convincing data as yet on the use of dietary supplementation.

For those interested in maintaining a healthy diet in any case, here is a list of foods that are high in anti-oxidants, which some people believe may play a role in maintaining healthy eyes.

Vitamin C

  • Citrus fruits
  • Berries
  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Cabbage
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cauliflower

Vitamin E

  • Vegetable oils (wheat germ oil is especially rich in vitamin E)
  • Wheat and other cereal grains
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Egg yolk
  • Milk fat
  • Butter
  • Meat
  • Nuts  
  • Seafood
  • Avocados

Vitamin A

  • Liver
  • Egg yolks
  • Whole milk
  • Carrots
  • Sweet potato
  • Kale Turnip greens
  • Pink Grapefruit
  • Broccoli
  • Apricots
  • Beet greens
  • Collard greens
  • Papaya
  • Red Peppers
  • Cheddar cheese

Zinc

  • Lean meat
  • Seafood
  • Eggs
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Soybeans
  • Peanuts
  • Whole Bran
  • Whole cereals
  • Cheese
  • Oysters

Lutein and Zeaxanthin

  • Kale
  • Collard greens
  • Spinach
  • Parsley (not dried)
  • Celery
  • Broccoli
  • Lettuce
  • Green peas
  • Pumpkin
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Summer squash
  • Corn
  • Green beans
  • Green peppers
  • Cucumbers
  • Green olives