Intraocular hypertension is one of the most common diseases affecting the eyes. It develops when the aqueous humor pressure is higher than usual. If neglected, hypertension can lead to glaucoma, a more serious disease that causes gradual loss of vision; for this reason it is vital to act as soon as it is detected. It is a completely asymptomatic condition that is usually diagnosed during an eye examination. The first therapeutic approach consists in instilling eye drops, but unfortunately they are not effective for all patients.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Nutrition and Lifestyle
Step 1. Lower your insulin levels
People who are obese, diabetic or with high blood pressure are often resistant to insulin, which triggers increased production of this hormone. High insulin levels have been related to ocular hypertension.
To solve the problem, patients are advised to avoid certain foods that can trigger a sudden spike in insulin, such as sugars, cereals (including whole and organic ones), bread, pasta, rice and potatoes
Step 2. Train often
Regular physical activity such as aerobic gymnastics, running, brisk walking, cycling and strength training allow you to lower your insulin level, thus also protecting your eyes from high blood pressure.
- Insulin is a hormone that allows the passage of the sugar present in the blood (glucose) to the cells that use it as a source of energy. If you consume this energy with training, your blood sugar and consequently your insulin levels are reduced. If the insulin is low, then there is no hyperstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system of the eye and therefore the intraocular pressure does not increase.
- Try to work out for at least 30 minutes a day, 3 to 5 times a week.
- Avoid exercises and positions that make you stand upside down, as this can increase intraocular pressure. This includes some yoga poses.
Step 3. Take omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplements
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a type of omega-3 that maintains healthy kidney function and prevents increased pressure in the eye.
- DHA and other omega-3s are found in oily cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, herring and shellfish. To increase your DHA intake, try to eat 2-3 servings of these fish per week.
- Alternatively, you can increase your omega-3 intake by taking fish oil capsules or seaweed supplements. For best results, take standard fish oil capsules of 3000-4000 mg per day or choose seaweed supplements with a dosage of 200 mg per day.
Step 4. Eat more foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin
These are carotenes that perform an antioxidant function by protecting the body from free radicals. The latter weaken the immune defenses, resulting in a tendency to infections and damage to the optic nerve.
- Lutein and zeaxanthin help lower intraocular pressure by reducing oxidation damage around the optic nerve; this detail is very important, because every injury to the optic nerve increases the ocular pressure.
- Foods that contain a lot of lutein and zeaxanthin are kale, spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and raw egg yolks. You should incorporate one of these foods into every main meal of the day.
Step 5. Avoid trans fats
As already described above, omega-3 fatty acids are able to reduce intraocular pressure. However, foods with a high trans fat content prevent omega-3s from working properly and, as a result, eye pressure may increase.
For this reason, you should limit your consumption of foods rich in this type of fat, including: industrial or baked goods, fried food, ice cream, microwave popcorn and ground beef
Step 6. Eat more antioxidant foods
Dark-colored berries, such as blueberries and blackberries, improve overall eye health by strengthening the capillaries that carry nutrients to the nerves and muscles. This is because dark berries contain antioxidants that strengthen blood vessels, reducing the chances of bleeding and injury.
- Aim to eat at least one serving of dark berries per day.
- Lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant that is used to prevent and treat many eye disorders, including glaucoma and hypertension. The standard dosage is 75 mg twice a day.
- Blueberries are used to improve visual acuity and fight degenerative eye diseases, including hypertension. A study conducted on a particular product that contains blueberries and pycnogenol (a pine bark extract) found that these elements are capable of lowering intraocular pressure.
- Grapeseed extract is an antioxidant that has been shown to be effective in lowering eye stress due to fixation. It is typically used to improve night vision and fight the signs of aging.
Step 7. Try marijuana (Cannabis) if this product is legal where you live
It can be taken in the form of edible capsules, sublinguals, tablets or as an oil for vaporizers. One of the elements of marijuana, cannabidiol (CBD), has no psychotropic effects and is capable of lowering intraocular pressure. A dosage of 20-40mg of CBD has been found to be effective in treating ocular hypertension.
Part 2 of 4: Surgical Treatments
Step 1. Know why surgery may be needed
If hypertension persists, it can damage the optic nerve, triggering a pathological condition called glaucoma, which can lead to blindness over time. This disease is usually treated with a combination of eye drops and oral medications. However, if these treatments do not lead to the desired results, it is necessary to resort to the operating room to lower the intraocular pressure.
- The goal of the surgery is to improve the flow of aqueous humor inside the eye and, consequently, to lower the pressure. Sometimes a single operation is not enough to bring blood pressure to normal and treat glaucoma. In these cases, a second retouching is required.
- There are several procedures that are put in place according to the severity of the situation.
Step 2. Ask your eye doctor for information about draining implants
These devices are used to treat intraocular hypertension in children and adults with advanced stage glaucoma. During the procedure, the surgeon inserts a small tube into the eye to facilitate the outflow of intraocular fluid and thereby reduce the pressure.
Step 3. Consider laser surgery
Trabeculoplasty is a procedure that uses a high-intensity laser beam to open blocked drainage channels within the eye, allowing aqueous humor to drain. After the surgery, the patient undergoes periodic check-ups to make sure the procedure was successful.
- Another procedure is called an iridotomy. This type of laser is used in people with closed drainage corners. The surgeon makes a small hole in the top of the iris to allow fluid to flow.
- If the laser iridotomy does not work, then you switch to a peripheral iridotomy. This procedure involves removing a small part of the iris to improve the drainage of the aqueous humor. This is a rather rare intervention.
Step 4. Know that you may need filtration surgery
Trabeculectomy is a type of surgery used as a last resort to treat hypertension that does not respond to eye drops and laser surgery.
- During surgery, the surgeon creates an opening in the sclera (the white part of the eye) and removes a small piece of tissue at the base of the cornea. This allows the aqueous humor to flow, thereby reducing the pressure in the eye.
- One eye is treated first and, weeks later, the other (if necessary). Sometimes it is necessary to operate several times because the opening could block or close again.
Part 3 of 4: Relaxation Exercises
Step 1. Practice blinking every 3-4 seconds
People have a tendency to "forget" to blink when working on a computer, watching television, or playing video games. This behavior puts pressure on the eyes.
- You can relax and refresh your eyes by blinking with conscious effort every 3-4 seconds for about 2 minutes. Use a watch to keep pace if necessary.
- Doing so relieves some pressure from your eyes and prepares them to process new information.
Step 2. Cover one eye with the palm of your hand
This action allows you to relax both the eye and the mind, removing stress and allowing you to wink freely.
- Place the right hand on the right eye with the fingers on the forehead and the base of the palm on the cheekbone. Do not apply any pressure.
- Hold your hand in this position for 30-60 seconds blinking the entire time. Then uncover the eye and repeat the exercise with the left eye.
Step 3. Move your eyes following an imaginary "8" trajectory
This exercise strengthens the extrinsic muscles and improves their flexibility. In this way the eyes are less prone to trauma and hypertension.
- Imagine that on the wall in front of you there is a large 8 written horizontally. With his eyes he tries to outline the number without, however, moving his head. Continue like this for a minute or two.
- If you have trouble imagining an 8 horizontally, try drawing it on a large piece of paper and hang it on the wall. At this point you can follow the perimeter with your eyes.
Step 4. Practice focusing on near and far objects
By doing this you strengthen the eye muscles and improve your vision in general.
- Find a quiet place to sit and where there are no distractions. Hold your thumb about 10 inches from you, in front of your eyes, and stare at it with both eyes.
- Maintain your thumb fixation for 5-10 seconds, then shift your attention to another object that is 3-6m away. Alternate fixation between the near and distant object for a minute or two.
Step 5. Try doing convergence exercises
This improves your fixation abilities and strengthens your eye muscles.
- Reach out in front of you with your thumb sticking out. Fix your finger with both eyes and slowly bring it closer until it is 8 cm from your face.
- Remove your finger again without ever losing fixation. Continue with this exercise for a minute or two.
Step 6. Try biofeedback
This technique can help relieve eye pressure. Biofeedback teaches you to control a normal body process, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. A biofeedback therapist will teach you the correct technique so that you can then start practicing on your own.
Part 4 of 4: Learn About Intraocular Hypertension
Step 1. Know how elevated intraocular pressure is diagnosed
This is a difficult problem to recognize as it shows no obvious symptoms such as ocular pain or hyperaemia. It is not possible to arrive at a formal diagnosis by observation alone and you must therefore undergo a full eye examination. The doctor has several tools to identify hypertension.
- Tonometry. This procedure measures intraocular pressure and determines if it is within the normal range. The eye is momentarily desensitized, then an orange dye is instilled to help the doctor take the measurement.
- A value equal to or greater than 21 mmHg usually indicates the presence of intraocular hypertension. However, there are other conditions that can interfere with this measurement, such as head or eye trauma or a buildup of blood behind the cornea.
- Breath tonometry. During the procedure the patient is asked to stare into an instrument, while the doctor illuminates the eye. The instrument sends a quick blast of air directly to the eye, simultaneously reading the changes in the light reflected from the cornea. The machine translates these changes into a pressure value.
Step 2. Know the causes of intraocular hypertension
This disorder is associated with aging, but also with other factors, including:
- Overproduction of aqueous humor. Aqueous humor is a transparent fluid that is produced by the eye. Its drainage is guaranteed by the structure of the trabeculae. If the eye produces too much fluid, the internal pressure increases.
- Insufficient drainage of the aqueous humor. If the liquid does not drain properly, it builds up and increases the internal pressure.
- Medicines. Some medicines (such as cortisone) can cause intraocular hypertension, especially in individuals who already have other risk factors.
- Ocular trauma. Any type of trauma or irritation to the eye can alter the balance between the production and outflow of aqueous humor and lead to an increase in pressure.
- Other eye diseases. Hypertension of the eye is often related to other organ problems, such as pseudoexfoliative syndrome (PEX), gerontoxon and pigmentary glaucoma.
Step 3. Be aware of the risk factors for ocular hypertension
Anyone can develop this condition, but studies have shown that people who belong to the categories listed below are at greater risk:
- Individuals of color.
- The over forties.
- Individuals familiar with glaucoma and intraocular hypertension.
- People with a reduced central corneal thickness.
