Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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A coworker was diagnosed with pressure behind her eyeball(s). Dr. wants more tests, etc. She has metabolic syndrome: pre-diabetic, high blood pressure, overweight, dyslipidemia (I know - it's jusr a marker for what she's eating) and NAFLD. We started talking about saturated fat/cholesterol and stuff - she's very interested, but her immediate concern is her eyes. I think a paleo/primal diet could help, but I need to connect the dots as to how exactly. She definitely wants more info.

Anyone have experience with this or can explain the biological basis for this condition?

edited Apr 8 2011 at 13:08

asked Apr 6 2011 at 14:09

Dave S.
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	Sounds like they have pseudotumor cerebri.....not good – The Quilt Apr 6 2011 at 15:54
	I am up voting this, I do not understand why it got down voted.. – Philosopher Apr 6 2011 at 19:33
	Thanks! I thought it was kinda strange - maybe a mouse slip... – Dave S. Apr 6 2011 at 23:57

A at Grain Free Diet · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-06 15:47:30Z UTC

Before she tries anything else, have her ask her doctor for a pachymetry test. It takes about 30 seconds in the doctor's office and is completely painless, but many eye doctors don't do it. It measures corneal thickness and a thick cornea can actually make eye pressure readings appear higher than they really are. It may turn out that she actually has thick corneas and not high eye pressure. This is important because if high eye pressure readings persist, they will end up putting her on eye drops for glaucoma (or, at least, they will try) when she may not even have a problem in the first place.

You can find out more about it here.

Dexter · Answer 2 · 2011-04-06 15:37:43Z UTC

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If you can get her started on a paleo diet that just eliminates wheat products and sugar to reduce her blood pressure, her eye pressure will abate. I know I have seen something about occular health and paleo, but I can't find it now.

Get her on 5000IU vit D3 daily. Leutein is available as a supplement OTC that assists in eye health.

I suspect she is more on the diabetic side than pre diabetes. I hope she knows that diabetes uncontrolled leads to blindness.

Good Luck. This co worker can cure herself with a paleo diet but we are so conditioned to looking to the "experts" for direction and pills to solve our medical problems, that she may not take seriously your "Non-Expert" advice. You are going to have to do an extremely good selling job...but the results will make you a hero.

answered Apr 6 2011 at 15:37

Dexter
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	"This co worker can cure herself"? How on earth can you KNOW that?? Paleo is not the cure to everything that ails us – Lee Apr 6 2011 at 19:09
	Metbolic syndrome is curable with a paleo diet strictly adhered to. I have seen it happen to two of my friends who are now totally off of the Type II meds and totally off high BP meds and how have fasting BG under 100..down from 300 and Triglycerides down under 80 and HDL over 70...from under 30. I don't know if this lady's eye pressure will abate...but her overall health will greatly improve by eating paleo. I have seen people cured of their all their metabolic syndrome disorders and if this lady desires to have better health, she can have it. – Dexter Apr 6 2011 at 19:21
	Just to add - my slight diabetic retinopathy has disappeared on LC paleo :) . – Efaitch Apr 6 2011 at 22:27
	Your answer says, "her eye pressure will abate," and that the woman, "can cure herself." I think it outrageous to make such claims with such confidence. Not every problem known to afflict the human body goes away with Paleo. – Lee Apr 7 2011 at 2:32
	I dont believe, for example, it takes away from the need for some people to wear glasses... – Lee Apr 7 2011 at 2:33

show 2 more comments

tnlakegirl · Answer 3 · 2011-04-08 02:52:00Z UTC

You might suggest she see a Physical therapist or massage therapist trained in cranial sacral therapy. The pressure can be caused by imbalance in the muscles and fascia in the face, neck, and shoulders. I have problems myself with pain and pressure behind my eye and have found cranial work to be helpful. I have also learned how to re-balance my own muscles and stay closer to pain free.

Regarding converting her to paleo, it might be easier to recommend a dairy elimination diet for a while. Some people find that dairy causes inflammation and increased mucus production in their sinuses, another possible cause for eye pressure.

Carly · Answer 4 · 2011-04-08 07:40:43Z UTC

My 20 year old sister had the same symptoms and it turned out to be Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, this mainly affects obese women of a child bearing age, the doctors told her she MUST lose weight or she could lose her sight or at best be on medication for the rest of her life. So if it is that, in that sense a Paleo diet would help because of the weight loss.

Egk · Answer 5 · 2011-04-07 00:22:29Z UTC

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How does her doc define pre diabetic?

answered Apr 7 2011 at 0:22

Egk
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Good question - I don't know. Maybe I can ask. – Dave S. Apr 7 2011 at 12:17

Buterflichik · Answer 6 · 2011-04-08 02:02:39Z UTC

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Has she ever had an MRI, or more crudely a CT scan, to see other plausible locations of pressure behind the eyes???

answered Apr 8 2011 at 2:02

Buterflichik
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Help for eyeball pressure

6 Answers