[2] which showed that the IOP falls right after eating and tends to be highest just before the next meal. This may explain why, in the diurnal variation of IOP, it tends to be highest early in the morning, since we have been fasting overnight.An interesting question would be whether a "grazing" type of diet, which seems to help lower cholesterol and facilitate weight loss, would help keep IOP down. When a glaucoma patient goes to the ophthalmologist to have a pressure check, it might be a good idea occasionally to do it at a time when the IOP is likely to be at its zenith -- early in the morning before eating breakfast or else just before supper or lunch. Can any particular diet lower IOP? The answer appears to be yes. In the late 1940's, Dr. Frederick Stocker and associates studied what they called the "rice diet." This diet had previously proved very effective in lowering blood pressure. The diet was limited to rice, sugar, fruit, and fruit juices, supplemented by vitamins and iron. It contained about 2,000 Calories with 20 gm of protein, 5 gm of fat, 460 gm of carbohydrate, 0.2 gm of sodium, and 0.15 gm of chloride. They found that "reductions [of IOP] of 5 or 7 mm, persisting over long periods, were not uncommon."

[3] A reduction of this magnitude is considered quite significant for a glaucoma patient and is about the amount that one would expect to result from a successful laser treatment. The researchers were not sure why the diet was effective but speculated that the very low sodium and chloride content somehow influenced fluid secretion into the eye. I was able to speak with the third author, Dr. James Clower, who was a resident at Duke at the time, and who is still practicing ophthalmology in Florida. He said that no follow-up studies had been done, but he laughingly commented that perhaps Seventh-day Adventists would have the best pressures! [Note from the editors: Many Seventh-day Adventists follow a vegetarian diet. Perhaps Dr. Clower felt this diet would be lower in protein and sodium; although this is not necessarily true.] A more recent study out of Israel followed people who were placed on intravenous feedings because of intestinal problems.