Sir Emeka Offor Foundation

SEOF in an Epic Battle with Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve and impairs vision which in many occasions progress to total blindness. Glaucoma affects people of all ages, and is the second major cause of blindness globally after cataract and can neither be prevented nor cured medically. Medical researchers are yet to discover the aetiology of glaucoma which holds the key to its curability and possible prevention. However, medical advice encourages people to go for test as early detection may not prevent it but will certainly help in its management pending the discovery of total cure. It is an eye disease often described as "slow finisher" due to its tardily but steadily degenerative nature to the optic nerve of the eye.
Everybody is at the risk of glaucoma but some people have higher risk than others. The simple question is, why are some people at higher risk than others? Those who have higher risk of glaucoma are African people, the elderly who are 60 and above, heavy users of computer, people with disease conditions like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, progressive myopia, low thyroid function and users of corticosteroids (asthma and arthritis patients). According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, over 60 million people currently have glaucoma worldwide. The causes of glaucoma have not been established which have triggered some unverified reports that it could be genetic. Whatever the cause, some of the symptoms have been established which among other things include eye pain, headache, cloudy or foggy vision, poor night vision and peripheral vision loss.
Based on emphasis medical researchers have placed on the early detection, Sir Emeka Offor, through his foundation, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation SEOF, have entered into sponsorship agreement with University of Mainz in Germany where he has contributed over £250, 000 to the Department of Ophthalmology of same University. This partnership funding is to help the research for its causes, the cure and its early detection especially as it has been established that no fewer than 4.5 million Nigerians live with this malaise. He is not just committing his finance to the research, he is making sure that massive campaign and free testing is administered to Nigerian populace soon. Major breakthrough of this funding will come when the aetiology of glaucoma is fully discovered and understood.
What then is the aetiology of glaucoma? Aetiology of Glaucoma is simply the root cause of glaucoma as a disease while glaucoma is a degenerative eye disease triggered by improper protein metabolism rooted in poor gut function. Poor digestion of protein due to low stomach acids deprives the central nervous system (brain, nerves, spinal cord and the eyes) amino acids and other key nutrients needed for production of neurotransmitters to conduct nerve impulses. The central nervous system degenerates and malfunctions without adequate protein in absorbable form.
Liver produces 80 per cent of amino acids needed by the central nervous system to work efficiently but its dysfunction makes this impossible. Fatty liver can also obstruct blood flow to the brain, eyes, heart and the kidneys. Pancreas produces digestive enzymes that help digest protein aside from its more popular role of producing insulin for glucose metabolism. But poor pancreatic function characterized by low production of digestive enzymes impairs digestion and assimilation of protein. In specific terms, deficiency of amino acids and some key nutrients due to improper protein metabolism causes fluid retention in the eyes and elevates ocular pressure. Without correcting poor gut function often exacerbated by aging and certain medications, the build-up of fluid in the eyes and the resultant 'ocular hypertension' progressively damage the retina cells, optic nerve and the visual field. Glaucoma is not primarily an eye problem, but a manifestation of abnormal neuro-circulatory function induced by poor gut function, improper protein metabolism and underactive thyroid gland.
There are different prognosis of the likely trigger of the causes of glaucoma but a definite cause or causes have not been medically proven as well as the cure. Persons diagnosed with glaucoma are however not in hopeless situation as early detection and proper management is key to beating total blindness. It was based on this premise and the fact that many lack the financial wherewithal and sensitization to go for test that the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation went into partnership with University of Mainz to bring succor to endangered millions especially in Nigeria. The sensitization for the awareness of glaucoma as an eye disease will center on its detection and management in other to reduce ignorant blindness in glaucoma related eye diseases.
A new study has clearly articulated nutritional protocols to prevent and beat glaucoma based on the likely understanding of its aetiology. Dietary measures in the study include how to correct poor gut function, fuel the liver for optimal function and eliminate systemic disorders that fuel insidious progression of glaucoma like inflammation, insulin resistance, underactive thyroid gland, dehydration, acidic pH and anaemia. The study also explains why glaucoma cannot be overcome without red meat and adequate intake of good fats. Other highlights of the study include effective detoxification methods, anti-glaucoma teas, pancreas restorer, dietary and lifestyle factors that aggravate glaucoma and Catch- 22 to unknot the dilemma of protein and glaucoma. What is this dilemma? Protein-rich foods aggravate glaucoma but ironically, glaucoma cannot be mitigated or managed without adequate intake of protein.

Obi Ebuka Onochie wrote via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.