Leading Causes of Blindness

 Do you ever wonder why I emphasize on this blog and in the exam room about eating healthy, eating more vegetables (especially green leafy vegetables) and fruits, stopping smoking, losing weight, exercising and committing to annual physicals?

 Let's look at the leading causes of blindness in the United States and then relate what causes the conditions that cause the blindness.

What are the leading causes of blindness in the United States?

Answer:  Cataracts, Glaucoma, Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy

(CLICK HERE to learn more about what cataracts are)

(CLICK HERE to learn more about what glaucoma is)

(CLICK HERE to learn more about age-related macular degeneration)

(CLICK HERE to learn more about diabetic retinopathy)

Causes of Cataracts:  Increasing age, DIABETES, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, excessive exposure to sunlight, exposure to ionizing radiation, family history of cataracts, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, OBESITY, previous eye injury, inflammation or surgery, prolonged use of corticosteroid therapy, SMOKING.  -Source: Mayo Clinic

Causes of Glaucoma:  elevated internal eye pressure, age, ethnic background, family history of glaucoma, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, long-term corticosteroid therapy, other eye conditions -Source: Mayo Clinic

Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy:  DIABETES (especially those who have the highest average blood sugar, those whose blood sugar fluctuates and those who have had diabetes for longer periods of time)   -Source: Mayo Clinic

Causes of Age-Related Macular Degeneration:  age, family history of macular degeneration, race, SMOKING, OBESITY, DIET (too few fruits and vegetables), HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, INFLAMMATION, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE   -Source: Mayo Clinic

See any trends?  Can you imagine how much you would decrease your risk for the leading causes of blindness if you are a smoker and you quit smoking?  What if you ate so healthy and exercised so regularly that you reduced/eliminated your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease?  Not only would you cut your risk for these conditions but you would reduce your risk for acquiring the conditions that are most likely to cause blindness. 

Here is a simple thought:  Did you know that you can't get diabetic retinopathy without having diabetes.  Soooooooo, would you do whatever it took to reduce your risk for diabetes?  What have you done to today to reduce your risk?  What have you done to increase your risk?

I would assume you don't want to go blind.  I don't either.  What above risk factors for these conditions do I have control over?

In previous posts, I have provided you with multiple clinical reports that show that a plant based diet, especially veganism, can reduce diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation and obesity.

Conclusion:  A PLANT-BASED DIET CAN REDUCE YOUR RISK FOR BLINDNESS AS WELL AS REDUCING YOUR RISK FOR THE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE BLINDNESS. 

Let's just allow that to soak in for a few moments, shall we?

Here are some more videos from one of my favorite websites, NutritionFacts.org:

Preventing Macular Degeneration with Diet | NutritionFacts.org (VIDEO)

Preventing Cataracts with Diet | NutritionFacts.org (VIDEO)

Prevent Glaucoma and See 27 Miles Farther | NutritionFacts.org (VIDEO)

How to Treat Diabetes | NutritionFacts.org (VIDEO)

Are you convinced that you need to adopt a plant based diet yet?