World Glaucoma Week is observed every year in the second week of March and this year it is from March 12 to 18. It primarily aims to create awareness among people about this debilitating condition that impacts countless people across the globe and preach the need for early diagnosis to slow the progression of glaucoma. This global health initiative is a collaboration observed by the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and the World Glaucoma Patient Committee (WGPC), to increase awareness in people about the necessity and importance of getting routine eye check-ups to detect asymptomatic glaucoma right in the initial stage and save eyesight.

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Glaucoma is a neurological disorder that causes increased eye pressure within the eyeball and results in the gradual deterioration and damage of the optic nerve, which serves as a pathway connecting our eyes to the brain. While the incidence of this eye disease is more in senior citizens, everyone is at risk of getting this eye disorder in the earlier years as well. It is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness, affecting more than 78 million people globally.

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This year the theme for World Glaucoma Week 2023 is “The world is bright, save your sight”. It mainly emphasizes the fact that preserving eyesight is possible by tweaking your lifestyle a bit. Regular eye check-ups, followed by reducing digital strain and limiting the use of technological devices, and incorporating a nutritious and well-balanced diet rich in eye-friendly nutrients, one can easily keep eye diseases at bay and enhance vision.

The treatment of glaucoma usually comprises reducing the fluid pressure inside the eyes with certain anti-glaucoma prescription drugs or by laser therapy or surgery in the layering stage. However, a totally non-invasive and non-surgical way to reduce the risk of this condition is through diet regulation. Diet plays a vital role in augmenting the eye tissue and preserving eyesight right from the growing stage.

Several pieces of research state that an ideal diet to boost eye health must include sufficient carotenoid antioxidants such as vitamin A, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta carotene, besides vitamin C, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. Consumption of such nourishing compounds through foods naturally helps to improve the blood flow to the eyes, and enhance optic nerve activity, aside from promoting the strength of visual tissues and the retina without causing any side effects.

We bring you a list of food options to include in your routine diet to uplift eyesight and help reduce the risk of glaucoma naturally.