The front section of your eye contains fluid, called aqueous, that provides nourishment to nearby inner tissues. Your eye constantly produces aqueous, and the "old" aqueous drains through the drainage angle. In a normal eye, this constant production and drainage of fluid provides nourishment, as well as the optimum pressure inside the eye. An imbalance in fluid entering and leaving may result in serious eye conditions. Knowing how vitamins may play a role in eye health could help you prevent complications.
Glaucoma
Eye doctors measure eye pressure as a part of your examination. This measurement helps the doctor determine the pressure balance in your eye. A high pressure does not necessarily indicate a problem, but if your eye doctor notes that you have damage to your optic nerve, she will order additional tests. The doctor may also note changes to your optic nerve even though you have a normal eye pressure, and she will order tests with the sign of any damage. These tests typically involve photographing the back of your eye to monitor your optic nerve for further damage. She may also recommend a visual field test that will detect any vision changes. Over time, if these tests indicate changes, your eye doctor will diagnose you with a condition called glaucoma.
Complications
Most people with glaucoma do not have warning signs or any noticeable symptoms. If the drainage angle closes, however, you will experience intense eye pain, nausea and vomiting, and these symptoms require immediate medical attention. If left untreated glaucoma will cause you to permanently lose your side vision, and this will occur in such gradual steps that you may not notice the changes. Over time, you may feel as though you are looking through a tunnel, and this tunnel will gradually narrow until you have complete vision loss, explains the National Eye Institute.
Treatment Options
In order to prevent vision loss from glaucoma, you must lower your eye pressure. Your eye doctor will likely recommend eye drops designed to help the aqueous drain. Eye drops typically cause significant irritation, and, for some people, the drops do not adequately reduce the eye pressure. If you experience these situations, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to help improve the drainage process in the eye.
Nutrients
As of 2010, doctors do not have a way to prevent glaucoma. Certain supplements, however, may offer benefits to the general health of the eye, and this may offer some protection. Important vitamins and minerals for the eyes include vitamins A, C and E, as well as zinc, copper and selenium, says the Glaucoma Research Foundation. You may choose to add vitamin-rich foods to your diet. This may include fruits, such as citrus and berries, as well as vegetables, lean meat and dairy products. Before making these changes, talk with your health care provider to determine if these diet changes work with your overall health.
Considerations
Always discuss your use of supplements with your health provider to ensure the supplements will not interact or interfere with your health or medications. Do not stop taking any prescribed eye drops without first discussing this with your eye doctor. Failure to use your eye drops may result in increased eye pressure and, as a result, permanent damage to your vision.
