What should glaucoma patients avoid?

Glaucoma will not go away on its own. There is currently no cure available for glaucoma, but proactive treatment can prevent future vision loss. If you want to keep glaucoma symptoms to a minimum, employ the lifestyle adjustments listed below. 

Foods to avoid if you have glaucoma

Certain foods and drinks can make glaucoma symptoms worse. These substances affect eye pressure in some way, and intense pressure is the primary symptom of glaucoma. Here are some foods glaucoma patients should avoid:

• Caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, soda, green tea, and energy drinks
• Foods that are high in trans fats, such as frozen pizza, potato chips, French fries, or “junk food”
• Foods with high salt or sodium content
• Foods high in saturated fats, such as milk, cheese, butter, dairy products, fatty beef, or pork
• Foods with simple carbohydrates, such as cereal, pasta, and bread—substitute with complex carbs like beans and vegetables

Activities to avoid if you have glaucoma

Exercise is excellent for physical health, and it’s even recommended in many instances for glaucoma treatment. However, you must be careful with any movement that may impact intraocular pressure. This includes exercises where the head sits lower than your core, such as inverted yoga poses or inversion therapy. 

Medicine to avoid if you have glaucoma

Glaucoma patients should avoid oral, topical, or nasal corticosteroid usage as this may cause eye pressure to become elevated. If you have glaucoma or have recently been diagnosed with glaucoma, inform your doctor and ask about medication adjustments you may need to make. 

What glaucoma patients should not avoid

When you have glaucoma, it’s important not to leave it untreated. Symptoms will only worsen with time, and once they progress, they cannot be reversed. Early intervention can limit damage to your vision and keep your glaucoma as manageable as possible. Schedule an eye exam right away to discuss treatments with your eye doctor.