Eye Stress May Prevent Glaucoma
Glaucoma Prevention
Although we consider stress to be a negative reaction to our environments, in some cases, stress is a good thing. A study was recently published in Molecular Medicine describing the positive effects of stress on the eyes. The study states that good stresses, such as low oxygen air and exercise, can strengthen the eyes.
This study is the first of its kind to show that ‘tolerance introduced by preconditioning’ may prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma. The study was completed on mice. The researchers found that in the mice who had been exposed to low oxygen levels, similar to what would be found at high altitudes, only 3 percent of their retinal ganglion cells died after they had been given laboratory introduced glaucoma. In the mice without preconditioning, 30 percent of their retinal ganglion cells died. Glaucoma becomes worse as more and more a person’s retinal ganglion cells died.
However, this preconditioning only works if it has happened before glaucoma sets in. If you already have glaucoma, only medications will help to prevent its advancing. Talk to your doctor about Xalatan, an eye drop which promotes proper drainage in the eye, which stops glaucoma.
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