Our eye-clinic/optical care services cover people from the following locations and near you: alagbole, akute, ajuwon, lambe, matogun, matogbun, giwa, okearo, koye, oke, arifanla, baale, Road, fagba, abule, egba, agege, ogba, ikeja, G. R. A, oshodi, Berger, ojodu, omole, magodo, yaba, mowe, ibafo, shagamu, Ishagah, shomolu, heritage, estate, ajao, College Road, iju, Road, water, works, omole, magado, ketu, ojota, ikoyi, akiode bus stop, grammar school, first gate, Ala Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Benin, Edo, Association, Club, Ikorodu, Ketu, ijoko, jankara, Ladipo, Ojota, Shomolu, Cele, Ogun, Lagos, Lagos Island, Lagos mainland, Ifako, Ijaye, eti osa, Oyo, Lisa, Obawole,Iju, Ishagah, Ishaga, Isaga, Isagah, Ishasi,Obawale,Owode, sang ota, abule egba, redeem camp, Ijebu ode, toll gate, bus stop, Street, along, Nigeria.
You are greatly remembered at this special season. May your life be continually filled by the love and joy of christmas. And may God continue to keep and bless you abundantly
Eyeupdate Eye-clinic & Optical Supplies, 01, Ajuwon bus stop, Akute/Ajuwon Road, Ajuwon (beside BPNL/MRS Filling station).
Tel: 08107531046, 08034971582
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). This single-celled organism is commonly found throughout the world and tends to infect birds and mammals. The parasite forms egg-like structures called oocysts. These must be ingested by mouth, which means the infection cannot be transferred from person to person.
Humans become infected with the toxoplasmosis parasite through contact with infected animal faeces (poo). Cats are the main hosts. They acquire T. gondii from eating infected rodents or birds and then may pass the infection to their human handlers.
Another way of catching this infection is touching or eating raw or undercooked lamb, pork or kangaroo meat. The parasites can be stored in small pockets (cysts) in the muscle tissue of these meats. Drinking contaminated unpasteurised milk can also cause infection with toxoplasmosis parasites.
In most cases of animal and human infection, toxoplasmosis does not cause any symptoms. The only evidence of infection is detection of antibodies in the blood against the toxoplasmosis parasite.
Symptoms, if they do occur, include:
The toxoplasmosis parasite can cause a long-term infection. Following infection, a small number of parasites can remain locked inside cysts within certain parts of the body, such as the brain, lungs and muscle tissue.
Under normal circumstances, the immune system will easily destroy any parasites that escape these cysts, but a person with lowered immunity may not be able to fend off an attack. The parasites can greatly increase in number and cause a variety of serious illnesses, including infection of the brain.
If newborn babies are infected, at worst, they will only suffer from mild illness. However, toxoplasmosis in pregnancy can expose babies in the womb to the parasite and this is potentially more serious. If a woman contracts toxoplasmosis for the first time while pregnant, the parasites may affect the baby through the placenta.
Most unborn babies aren’t affected at all, but a minority may be harmed by infection. Effects of toxoplasmosis on unborn babies can include:
Pregnant women and people who have compromised immune systems should take precautions against toxoplasmosis. If a woman is infected before she becomes pregnant, then her immune system will attack the parasite and make it harmless. Problems only occur if a woman becomes infected for the first time while pregnant.
A pregnant woman and people with compromised immune systems can take simple precautions to reduce the risk of infection with the parasite. These include:
The infectious oocysts are robust and hardy. They can survive in water, soil or sand for around 12 months. Young children who play in sandpits and gardens may be at risk if they come into contact with infected cat faeces. Precautions include:
Cats are only infectious for a few weeks after ingesting the parasites and kittens are more likely to pass on the infection than older cats. Suggestions on reducing the risk of infection in your cat include:
Treatment of toxoplasmosis is often unnecessary. The infection is diagnosed with a simple blood test that checks for the presence of specific antibodies. A healthy person who is not pregnant and becomes infected does not require treatment. Symptoms, if any, are usually mild and disappear after a few weeks.
For pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems, such as those in the later stages of human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS), medications including antibiotics may be prescribed.
It’s best to approach pterygium surgery with the goal of reducing the chances of recurrence at all costs. While most pterygia are asymptomatic and regarded as garden variety lesions, they become serious problems if they recur after removal. These cases most certainly warrant a subspecialist evaluation. In this article, I’ll discuss some surgical approaches to pterygium, with particular emphasis on recurrent pterygium.
At the Outset
When a patient presents with a pterygium, the first thing to decide is whether it’s necessary to do anything at all. Many patients have only mild complaints related to dryness or irritation, and are often best observed or managed medically. Lubrication or topical NSAIDs may help relieve ocular inflammation and reduce the pterygium’s appearance. Protecting the face and eyes from excessive UV exposure may also help, as pterygium is more prevalent in regions that receive strong ultraviolet radiation.
Only a small percentage of pterygium cases warrants surgical excision. Indications for surgery include obstruction of the visual axis, pterygium-induced irregular astigmatism, chronic eye irritation and cosmetic dissatisfaction.
If you do decide to surgically remove the pterygium, your next decision will be to determine how extensive a procedure is required. One day postoperatively, no matter which method you used to remove the pterygium, it’s going to be gone. The question is: Is it going to come back? You want to do everything you can to make sure the answer is “no.”
Surgical Strategy
There are many different ways to do a basic pterygium removal, and potentially hundreds of modifications of the surgical technique. The most common method of simple excision takes about five minutes but is associated with a much higher relative risk of the pterygium recurring. For this technique, you simply pry the scar tissue off the cornea and snip it off. It’s effective for about 90 percent of cases, but that means you can expect approximately 10 percent of cases to recur (often with a vengeance).
As a medical adjuvant to the simple snip excision, one might also consider the adjunctive use of antimetabolites such as mitomycin-C on the surgical site. This isn’t something that I usually do however, because mitomycin carries the risk of scleral melting. If you’re concerned enough to pour chemotherapy on the surface of the eye to prevent the pterygium from coming back, then, rather than using the mitomycin technique, the optimal thing to do would be to try the PERFECT technique (explained in detail below).
Pterygium Excision
We often use a nerve blocker for pterygium excision. Retrobulbar anesthesia is typically most comfortable for the patient because it provides good levels of pain control during the procedure. Take care not to damage the underlying corneal tissue or remove stroma when prying the pterygium off the surface of the eye.
First, make an incision at the limbus where the pterygium begins to encroach over the cornea. Cut it free and peel it from the corneal surface using blunt dissection. Once the pterygium’s been removed, we often polish the cornea with a diamond burr. When the cornea has been repaired, we turn our attention to the sclera and conjunctiva.
Dissect the conjunctiva free from Tenon’s capsule. Remove all of Tenon’s capsule where the pterygium was.
Once you remove the scar tissue from the nasal aspect of the cornea and globe, you must then decide what to put in the gap where the scar tissue used to be. You have a few options:
Option 1: Do nothing. You can just leave it bare and it’ll re-epithelialize on its own. This has the highest risk of recurrence and induces the most patient discomfort, but it can be done.
Option 2: Cover the area with a biological material. Amniotic membrane, which can be placed and glued or sutured over the area of the defect, is a very effective method. We prefer to use glue, since it’s fast and simple. Amniotic membrane makes patients more comfortable and contributes to the healing of the tissue. However, it’s not quite as effective in discouraging recurrence as the third option.
Option 3: Rotational conjunctival autograft. This method might not be necessary in every case, but it’s the least likely to lead to recurrence. It’s also the technique I perform most often.
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To perform a rotational conjunctival autograft, first measure the conjunctival epithelial defect and how much bare sclera you need to cover. Then, harvest the conjunctiva approximately 90 degrees or 3 to 4 clock hours away from the resected site, usually in the superior globe, with Wescott scissors. Dissect the conjunctiva free from the underlying Tenon’s capsule to an extent that matches the surface area of the pterygium. Create a pedicle flap and rotate it down to cover the area. Glue or suture the flap to the bed with 8-0 vicryl. If using glue, aim for as little glue as possible. Postoperatively, prescribe topical antibiotic drops such as fluoroquinolone q.i.d. for a week, and a steroid drop such as prednisolone acetate q.i.d., tapered over one to three months.
In terms of graft stability, gluing and suturing will give you the most peace of mind. A third technique, autologous in situ blood coagulum, will also work if you don’t have access to glue and you do have an extra 10 minutes to hold pressure on the site. The patient’s natural bleeding in the area will coagulate and anchor the amniotic membrane; however, you can’t be as sure as with glue or suture that the tissue will still be adherent after a day or a week. Besides, glue and suture are expensive, but the most expensive thing of all is time in the operating room—holding tissue down with your fingers for 10 minutes is quite expensive.
Recurrence (discussed below) is the most serious postop complication of pterygium excision. Additionally, you have to be concerned about scarring. When you’re cutting on the eye you’re generating scar tissue, so you need to be careful that you don’t end up with a tangled, fibrous mess. This is entirely possible, especially with multiple surgeries.
Other complications you may encounter include scleral melt due to the use of mitomycin-C; fibrosis, especially around the extraocular muscle in that location; infection, which is rare; and ocular surface discomfort, which can last for weeks or even months. Typically, the steroids help ease discomfort, but we also encourage the use of lubricant drops. Keep these complications in mind when forming your surgical strategy.
Recurrence
Young people are generally at increased risk for recurrence, as are African Americans and Hispanics of all ages, who tend to have more inflammatory phenotypes. Additionally, patients with double pterygia (on both the nasal and temporal aspects of the cornea) and bilateral double pterygia are at extremely high risk for recurrence. In these patients, you need to take every possible precaution and be very careful if you do any surgery on them.
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It’s critical that these patients be watched carefully for recurrence. If you notice the area you’ve resected is starting to grow back, usually at a millimeter-by-millimeter pace, begin aggressive topical steroids immediately, since you want to do everything in your power to avoid a second surgery. If the eye is red and inflamed, that’s the time for drops, not surgery.
However, if you lose the battle—whether you’re inattentive, or the patient comes back years later, or was referred elsewhere and upon their return to you, the pterygium is growing over the visual axis—then it’s time to consider reoperating.
In the event that the pterygium recurs, I recommend trying the PERFECT technique. This technique, which stands for Pterygium Extended Removal Followed by Extended Conjunctival Transplant, was pioneered by Australian ophthalmologist Lawrence Hirst, MBBS, MD, MPH, who runs The Australian Pterygium Centre. It has by far the lowest risk of recurrence, at just 0.1 percent (Figure 1). This method involves extensive removal of Tenon’s capsule from the area of the pterygium and surrounding areas and is meant to be used on patients who have recurrent pterygium after previous surgical removal. This procedure has very good cosmetic outcomes, with most patients reporting being unable to tell which eye had surgery.
The PERFECT technique for pterygium consists of three components that each take about 15 to 20 minutes to perform. Following are the steps of the technique as described by Prof. Hirst in a video of the procedure.
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First, mark and transect the pterygium. Strip it from the corneal surface. Try to avoid having any residual pterygium tissue. Next, separate Tenon’s layer from the overlying conjunctiva and sclera, almost to the superior and inferior rectus muscles, and over the medial rectus muscle back to the caruncle (Figure 2). Adequate removal will result in visible bare sclera above and below the medial rectus muscle.
For the extended conjunctival transplant, mark the donor graft starting at the superior bulbar conjunctiva (Figure 3). The mark should extend almost to the superior fornix, and about 1 to 2 mm short of the limbus, and nasally, almost to the pterygium excision site. Leave a 5- to 7-mm bridge of conjunctiva and Tenon’s layer. At the donor site, the conjunctiva to be grafted should be separated from Tenon’s. A successful autograft should be virtually transparent, without any Tenon’s layer carried over with the graft. This helps to ensure that the donor site will heal with minimal-to-no scarring. The conjunctival graft is then transferred to the site of the former pterygium and sutured into place (Figure 4). To view a video of this technique, visit youtu.be/ODpQ_RbgHn4.
While it has the best success rate for preventing recurrence, by a wide margin, PERFECT is a long procedure—taking an hour to two hours of operating time, depending on your experience and skill level. However, I believe that anyone who’s had a pterygium recurrence needs to undergo this technique, as opposed to the standard “rip and clip.”
Ultimately, a pterygium isn’t something you want to keep hacking off over and over again. If it recurs early on, and you don’t feel comfortable doing the very refined PERFECT surgery yourself, it’s a good idea to refer the patient to a specialist. REVIEW
A chalazion is a small, slow-growing lump or cyst that develops within the eyelid. They are not usually painful and rarely last longer than a few weeks.
A chalazion can develop when a meibomian gland at the edge of an eyelid becomes blocked or inflamed. These glands produce oil that lubricates the surface of the eye.
In this article, we look at the symptoms of a chalazion and the differences between a chalazion and a stye. We also describe causes, home treatment, when to see a doctor, surgery, and prevention.
In the early stages, a chalazion appears as a small, red or otherwise inflamed area of the eyelid.
Within a few days, this inflammation can develop into a painless and slow-growing lump.
A chalazion can appear on the upper or lower eyelid, but they are more common on the upper lid.
Although chalazia are generally painless, they can cause the eye to become watery and mildly irritated. A particularly large chalazion may press on the eyeball, which can lead to blurry vision.
People sometimes confuse a chalazion with a stye due to the similarities in appearance. A stye is also a small lump that can develop in the eye area.
Although people often use the two terms interchangeably, they refer to different types of lesion.
A chalazion results from a blocked oil gland, whereas a stye indicates an infected oil gland or hair follicle. However, a chalazion can sometimes develop into a stye.
There are two types of stye:
The most noticeable difference between a chalazion and a stye is that a chalazion tends to be painless. A stye is usually very painful and may cause the eye to feel sore and scratchy.
Other symptoms of a stye can include:
Most styes increase in size for around 3 days before the pus begins to drain. They usually take around 1 week to heal.
A chalazion typically occurs in a person with an underlying inflammatory condition that affects the eyes or skin. Some of these conditions include:
Less commonly, chalazia develop due to viral conjunctivitis, which is a type of eye infection.
Individuals who have had a stye or chalazion have an increased risk of developing chalazia in the future.
Other risk factors for a chalazion include:
A chalazion usually requires very little medical treatment and tends to clear up on its own within a few weeks.
In the meantime, it is important to avoid squeezing or popping the chalazion, as this can increase the risk of an eye infection.
However, there are several safe ways to promote drainage and speed up the healing process. These include:
Applying a warm compress to the affected eye can help soften any hardened oil blocking the gland ducts. This helps the ducts open and drain more effectively, which can relieve irritation.
To make and use a warm compress:
Gently massaging the eyelids for several minutes each day can help the oil ducts drain more effectively.
Before doing so, ensure that the hands are clean to reduce the risk of infection.
Once the chalazion begins to drain, keep the area clean and avoid touching it with bare hands.
A number of over-the-counter products can help treat a chalazion or stye. These may reduce irritation, prevent infection, and speed up the healing process.
Some of these products include ointments, solutions, and medicated eye pads. A pharmacist can provide advice.
To prevent further discomfort or irritation, it is best to avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses until the chalazion heals.
Consider seeing an eye doctor, an ophthalmologist or optometrist, if a chalazion does not drain and heal within 1 month.
The healthcare professional will ask about symptoms and examine the area to rule out other conditions. They may also prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops or ointments to reduce discomfort and speed healing.
For some people, a doctor may give a steroid injection to reduce swelling. This will depend on the location, size, and number of chalazia present.
If there are signs of a bacterial infection, the doctor may recommend a course of oral antibiotics.
For a person with a severe or persistent chalazion, a doctor may recommend surgery to drain it. This typically takes place in the doctor’s office using local anesthesia.
Chalazia can sometimes recur. If this happens often, the doctor may need to take a biopsy of the lump.
A biopsy involves removing a small sample of tissue, which the doctor will examine for signs of a more serious condition.
Cleansing the eye area every day can help prevent a chalazion from developing or recurring.
Using eyelid scrubs or premoistened cleansing wipes to keep the oil glands from becoming blocked.
Other chalazion prevention tips include:
A chalazion is a painless lump that can develop on the eyelid.
Although chalazia can cause irritation and discomfort, they are usually harmless and clear up on their own within a few weeks. Occasionally, a chalazion may become infected and develop into a stye.
See an eye doctor, an optometrist or ophthalmologist, if the eye area becomes particularly swollen or painful, or if the chalazion does not respond to home treatment.
A daily eye-cleansing routine may help keep a chalazion from recurring.
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Your eyes are an important part of your health. Most people rely on their eyes to see and make sense of the world around them. But some eye diseases can lead to vision loss, so it is important to identify and treat eye diseases as early as possible. You should get your eyes checked as often as your health care provider recommends it, or if you have any new vision problems. And just as it is important to keep your body healthy, you also need to keep your eyes healthy.
There are things you can do to help keep your eyes healthy and make sure you are seeing your best:
Everyone needs to have their eyesight tested to check for vision and eye problems. Children usually have vision screening in school or at their health care provider’s office during a checkup. Adults may also get vision screenings during their checkups. But many adults need more than a vision screening. They need a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
Getting comprehensive dilated eye exams is especially important because some eye diseases may not have warning signs. The exams are the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages, when they are easier to treat.
The exam includes several tests:
If you have a refractive error and are going to need glasses or contacts, then you will also have a refraction test. When you have this test, you look through a device that has lenses of different strengths to help your eye care professional figure out which lenses will give you the clearest vision.
At what age you should start getting these exams and how often you need them depends on many factors. They include your age, race, and overall health. For example, if you are African American, you are at higher risk of glaucoma and you need to start getting the exams earlier. If you have diabetes, you should get an exam every year. Check with your health care provider about if and when you need these exams
The term ocular hypertension usually refers to any situation in which the pressure inside the eye, called intraocular pressure, is higher than normal. Eye pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Normal eye pressure ranges from 10-21 mm Hg. Ocular hypertension is an eye pressure of greater than 21 mm Hg.
Although its definition has evolved through the years, ocular hypertension is commonly defined as a condition with the following criteria:
Ocular hypertension should not be considered a disease by itself. Instead, ocular hypertension is a term that is used to describe individuals who should be observed more closely than the general population for the onset of glaucoma. For this reason, another term to refer to a person with ocular hypertension is “glaucoma suspect,” or someone whom the eye doctor is concerned may have or may develop glaucoma because of elevated pressure inside the eyes. An eye exam may show a glaucoma-damaged optic nerve.
As mentioned above, increased intraocular pressure can result from other eye conditions. However, within this article, ocular hypertension primarily refers to increased intraocular pressure without any optic nerve damage or vision loss. Glaucoma is diagnosed when characteristic optic nerve and vision changes occur; typically with elevated eye pressure but occasionally with normal pressure.
As of the year 2013, an estimated 2.2 million people in the United States had glaucoma and more than 120,000 are legally blind because of this disease. These statistics alone emphasize the need to identify and closely monitor people who are at risk of developing glaucoma, particularly those with ocular hypertension.
Some studies have found that the average intraocular pressure in African-Americans is higher than in whites, while other studies have found no difference.
Although some studies have reported a significantly higher average intraocular pressure in women than in men, other studies have not shown any difference between men and women.
Intraocular pressure slowly rises with increasing age, just as glaucoma becomes more prevalent as you get older.
Elevated intraocular pressure is a concern in people with ocular hypertension because it is one of the main risk factors for glaucoma.
High pressure inside the eye is caused by an imbalance in the production and drainage of fluid in the eye (aqueous humor). The channels that normally drain the fluid from inside the eye do not function properly. More fluid is continually being produced but cannot be drained because of the improperly functioning drainage channels. This results in an increased amount of fluid inside the eye, thus raising the pressure.
Another way to think of high pressure inside the eye is to imagine a water balloon. The more water that is put into the balloon, the higher the pressure inside the balloon. The same situation exists with too much fluid inside the eye—the more fluid, the higher the pressure. Also, just like a water balloon can burst if too much water is put into it, the optic nerve in the eye can be damaged by too high of a pressure. See Images 1-2.
People with very thick but normal corneas often have eye pressure measuring at the high levels of normal or even a little bit higher. Their pressures may actually be lower and normal but the thick corneas cause a falsely high reading during measurements.
Most people with ocular hypertension do not experience any symptoms. For this reason, regular eye examinations with an eye doctor are very important to rule out any damage to the optic nerve from the high pressure.
An eye doctor performs tests to measure intraocular pressure as well as to rule out early primary open-angle glaucoma or secondary causes of glaucoma. These tests are explained below.
If your eye doctor prescribes medicines (see Medical Treatment and Medications) to help lower the pressure inside your eye, properly applying the medication and complying with your doctor’s instructions are very important. Not doing so could result in a further increase in intraocular pressure that can lead to optic nerve damage and permanent vision loss (i.e, glaucoma).
The goal of medical treatment is to reduce the pressure before it causes glaucomatous loss of vision. Medical treatment is always initiated for those people who are believed to be at the greatest risk for developing glaucoma (see When To Seek Medical Care) and for those with signs of optic nerve damage.
How your eye doctor chooses to treat you is highly individualized. Depending on your particular situation, you may be treated with medications or just observed. Your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of medical treatment versus observation with you.
Your intraocular pressure is evaluated periodically using guidelines similar to these:
Follow-up visits may also be scheduled for the following reasons:
The ideal drug for treatment of ocular hypertension should effectively lower intraocular pressure, have no side effects, and be inexpensive with once-a-day dosing; however, no medicine possesses all of the above. When choosing a medicine for you, your eye doctor prioritizes these qualities based on your specific needs.
Medications, usually in the form of medicated eyedrops, are prescribed to help lower increased intraocular pressure. Sometimes, more than one medicine is needed. See Understanding Glaucoma Medications.
Initially, your eye doctor might have you use the eyedrops in only one eye to see how effective the drug is in lowering the pressure inside your eye. If it is effective, then your doctor will most likely have you use the eyedrops in both eyes. See How to Instill Your Eyedrops.
Once a medicine is prescribed, you have regular follow-up visits with your eye doctor. The first follow-up visit is usually 3-4 weeks after beginning the medicine. Your pressures are checked to ensure the drug is helping to lower your intraocular pressure. If the drug is working and is not causing any side effects, then it is continued and you are reevaluated 2-4 months later. If the drug is not helping to lower your intraocular pressure, then you will stop taking that drug and a new drug will be prescribed.
Your eye doctor may schedule your follow-up visits in accordance with the particular drug you are taking, because some medicines (e.g., latanoprost [Xalatan], travoprost [Travatan], bimatoprost [Lumigan]) may take 6-8 weeks to be fully effective.
During these follow-up visits, your eye doctor also observes you for any allergic reactions to the drug. If you are experiencing any side effects or symptoms while on the drug, be sure to tell your eye doctor.
Generally, if the pressure inside the eye cannot be lowered with 1-2 medicines, you might have early primary open-angle glaucoma instead of ocular hypertension. In this case, your eye doctor will discuss the appropriate next steps in your treatment plan.
Laser and surgical therapy are not generally used to treat ocular hypertension, because the risks associated with these therapies are higher than the actual risk of developing glaucomatous damage from ocular hypertension. However, if you cannot tolerate your eye medications, laser surgery could be an option, and you should discuss this therapy with your eye doctor.
Depending on the amount of optic nerve damage and the level of intraocular pressure control, people with ocular hypertension may need to be seen from every 2 months to yearly, even sooner if the pressures are not being adequately controlled.
Glaucoma should still be a concern in people who have elevated intraocular pressure with normal-looking optic nerves and normal visual field testing results or in people who have normal intraocular pressure with suspicious-looking optic nerves and visual field testing results. These people should be observed closely because they are at an increased risk for glaucoma.
Ocular hypertension cannot be prevented, but through regular eye examinations with an eye doctor, its progression to glaucoma can be prevented.
The prognosis is very good for people with ocular hypertension.
Educating people with glaucoma is essential for medical treatment to be successful. The person who understands the chronic (long-term), potentially progressive nature of glaucoma is more likely to comply with medical treatment.
Numerous handouts about glaucoma are available, two of which are listed below.
Also, see For More Informationand Web Links.
American Academy of Ophthalmology
655 Beach Street
Box 7424
San Francisco, CA 94120
(415) 561-8500
Glaucoma Research Foundation
251 Post Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94108
(800) 826-6693
Prevent Blindness America
225 West Wacker Drive
Suite 400
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(800) 331-2020
The Glaucoma Foundation
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 700
New York, NY 10038
(212) 285-0080
Lighthouse International
111 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1202
(212) 821-9200
(800) 829-0500
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Media file 1: Parts of the eye.
Media file 2: Elevated eye pressure is caused by a build-up of fluid inside the eye because the drainage channels (trabecular meshwork) cannot drain it properly. Elevated eye pressure can cause optic nerve damage and vision loss.
OHT, Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study, OHTS, high pressure inside the eye, glaucoma, glaucoma suspect, primary open-angle glaucoma, primary open angle glaucoma, POAG, intraocular pressure, IOP, increased IOP, elevated IOP, high IOP, increased intraocular pressure, elevated intraocular pressure, high intraocular pressure, high eye pressure, elevated eye pressure, increased eye pressure, optic nerve, optic nerve damage, visual field defect, vision loss, blindness, ocular hypertensionWebMD Medical Reference
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Posted on July 4, 2018102
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People often have “gender reveal” parties for their babies. You’ll see balloons in grocery stores that say, “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl!”
But what if it’s neither? Or both?
Most parents don’t consider their children being anything other than a boy or a girl, so you, the gender questioning individual, must figure that out for yourself.
In such a gendered society, it’s tough to figure out if you’re non-binary or transgender. But after this article, you’ll have a little more insight on how to know if you’re non-binary, not transgender.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=2712664100&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.11~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536242&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241364&bpp=73&bdt=10831&idt=-M&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=2&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=1597&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=537&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=2&uci=a!2&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=dkVkqCoUWn&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=814
(Conversely, if you think you might be transgender click here)
Let’s begin with some definitions, shall we?
What does it mean to be non-binary?
Let’s start with the word “non-binary” itself. A non-binary individual is someone who identifies outside of a binary.
A binary is a categorization with only two options. Salt and pepper are a binary. Black and white are a binary. Man and woman, too, are a binary.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=1124583932&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.21~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536242&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241364&bpp=33&bdt=10830&idt=-M&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300&nras=3&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=2500&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=537&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=3&uci=a!3&btvi=2&fsb=1&xpc=fVrlr3HalY&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=902
But there are more spices than just salt or pepper. There’s an infinite shade of gray between black and white. And, you guessed it, there are more ways to express yourself than just “man” or “woman.”
So a non-binary individual is simply someone who does not consider themself a man or a woman. They can feel most comfortable in between the two, switch from a man to woman and vice versa, or identify in multiple different ways.
At the end of the day, though, a non-binary individual does not feel solely like a man or solely like a woman, as cisgender people do. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=1438455242&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.27~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536242&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241364&bpp=37&bdt=10830&idt=38&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300%2C360x300&nras=4&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=3446&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=537&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=3&fsb=1&xpc=x1ztlru187&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=973
Now to clear up some points of confusion that may result from these definitions:
A non-binary individual is not to be confused with an intersex individual. An intersex individual is someone who was born with various male or female sex characteristics. For example, someone can have a vagina and a Y chromosome.
Intersex people are biologically between male and female. However, a person’s body parts or sex characteristics does not always dictate how this person will identify. So if you’re intersex, you can still identify as a man or a woman. Or neither.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=2496288911&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.33~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536243&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241441&bpp=34&bdt=10908&idt=35&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x512%2C360x90&nras=7&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=4424&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=795&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=5&uci=a!5&btvi=5&fsb=1&xpc=IX3TR3yRTb&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=2165
Because it’s not the body that dictates gender identity, but simply how a person feels within their body.
And if you’re reading this, you’re probably feeling some type of way about the body you were born into. Let’s dig into that a little deeper.
Non-binary means not-cis.
What is being cis?
Cis is shorthand for cisgender, or someone whose biological sexual characteristics matches up with the traditional gender identity for that body.
But you can have those biological characteristics and not be a man, because, again, a body does not dictate gender identity.
How we express ourselves can be in different ways in the gender spectrum. Short hair and painted fingernails can no longer be assigned to just one gender or the other. Both genders are taking it up, or no gender at all.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=46347350&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.53~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536285&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241513&bpp=34&bdt=10980&idt=45&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Df9a156dba5ba4796-229463c7b67a00ca%3AT%3D1624536240%3ART%3D1624536240%3AS%3DALNI_MY5oTEv9924UoE2zMnqUuc3iT2_6Q&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x512%2C360x90%2C360x300&nras=8&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=6628&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=2683&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&psts=AGkb-H8j1td-CXV2SpfHIyALNISMLnoHz32d6KzFDJh_yweLs0p3W5ZzlfrLuF_RTn9fehRSIiDJ0QMbiPZnXFfnkCCGN8oJU-SRzShC%2CAGkb-H8m_OwEXV_lurVwh7w-hvejwwRVf1BVRGBwduZWFlElS78t3KORWTnnmC1vf-suudvTSRCk5MPLlUnQBA%2CAGkb-H9ObkuvoJ3ZaakHEfUO99sJHe-9YeOLlSwaI7WeWdyj01g8Wjdw9eT3PQQT6QFVdRgJNJRDm9gIYksnng%2CAGkb-H8Uo06nd22MDTWyTbwJN3EDzwB1w6kMQWw7YIrT69MHUCIRuLdfF4ArBkv8f1HJhGv8lP6cEc7l8syqzQ%2CAGkb-H-6zbNfJtj8ikgVlZUJA5Hqrzum4GdJX1v7bEE5kNndG0GQtahUj6mG0RQQhChGXJuwqt32VHFLzdkLnw&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=6&fsb=1&xpc=RybFYeG4Ps&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=44438
So with that let’s talk about practical ways you can know if you’re non-binary:
Things to help figure out if you’re non-binary:
The absolute best way to figure out if you’re non-binary: navigate your euphoria and dysphoria.
A lot of this sounds like how to know if you’re trans (as a lot of these behaviors are also found on the transgender article).
At the end of the day, a lot of the same feelings of dysphoria for transgender and non-binary individuals stem from the same body issues. A lot of people who think they’re trans eventually realize that they’re non-binary and vice versa.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=276673348&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.77~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536451&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241594&bpp=30&bdt=11061&idt=31&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Df9a156dba5ba4796-229463c7b67a00ca%3AT%3D1624536240%3ART%3D1624536240%3AS%3DALNI_MY5oTEv9924UoE2zMnqUuc3iT2_6Q&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x512%2C360x90%2C360x300%2C360x300&nras=9&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=11249&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=7277&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&psts=AGkb-H8j1td-CXV2SpfHIyALNISMLnoHz32d6KzFDJh_yweLs0p3W5ZzlfrLuF_RTn9fehRSIiDJ0QMbiPZnXFfnkCCGN8oJU-SRzShC%2CAGkb-H8m_OwEXV_lurVwh7w-hvejwwRVf1BVRGBwduZWFlElS78t3KORWTnnmC1vf-suudvTSRCk5MPLlUnQBA%2CAGkb-H9ObkuvoJ3ZaakHEfUO99sJHe-9YeOLlSwaI7WeWdyj01g8Wjdw9eT3PQQT6QFVdRgJNJRDm9gIYksnng%2CAGkb-H8Uo06nd22MDTWyTbwJN3EDzwB1w6kMQWw7YIrT69MHUCIRuLdfF4ArBkv8f1HJhGv8lP6cEc7l8syqzQ%2CAGkb-H-6zbNfJtj8ikgVlZUJA5Hqrzum4GdJX1v7bEE5kNndG0GQtahUj6mG0RQQhChGXJuwqt32VHFLzdkLnw%2CAGkb-H8SnqIXJEyV_0GPYo0fvtZdNyqIDxgsu2NRAzyMSqJi6VF0kk9feoi7Yk-s-caiFr4wekxvxrfieAVPAck4&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=7&uci=a!7&btvi=7&fsb=1&xpc=fXYqE5Mm5C&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=M
But I’d say the biggest indication that you’re non-binary rather than trans is that you don’t want to be seen as either male/female or man/woman. Your pronouns and gender presentation may reflect that. Or they might not.
Thing To Remember:
At the end of the day, you decide how you feel. But hearing other people’s stories helps validate things you’re feeling or help you realize that you’ve been feeling some type of way this whole time.
Below are some insightful YouTube videos I found.
“How I Knew I Was Non-Binary” Personal Stories
I really like Charlie’s video describing what it feels like to be non-binary.
Jeff Miller’s video being transmasculine: being assigned female at birth but identifying more with masculine presentation and things, while not feeling like a “man.” As he says, gendered language like “man,” “dude,” “bro” makes them uncomfortable.
A video compilation by Ryan Cassata which includes a buuuunch of non-binary individuals saying what it is that makes them non-binary. Most of the responses describe feeling neutral to gender or simply not feeling male or female.
A popular non-binary bean, Ashley Wylde, describes how it feels to be non-binary. They say that being non-binary feels like having blonde hair or brown eyes. Their gender, or lack of gender, feels pretty normal.
(Please check out more great content from these YouTubers on their channels! Give ’em all the love and views they deserve).
In conclusion…
You can resonate with someone else’s coming out story or you can totally feel like your experience is unique. That’s okay.
You don’t have to rush to any conclusions. Just take your time, read up on other coming out stories and experiment with your gender until you find something you’re the most comfortable with.
Hope this helped!
I love you. So much.
Although Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new disease and experts are still learning how it spreads, touching a surface or object that has any virus or germs on it and then touching your mouth, nose, or possibly eyes can lead to infection.
We’ve teamed up with Dr. Jennifer Tsai, OD to answer a few questions about ways to protect your eyes during this outbreak.
Yes, as of now and the most sanitary option is daily contacts.
The cardinal rule for staying healthy is to wash your hands often. The eyes are an entry point for germs, including viruses which makes washing your hands immediately before handling contacts especially important. This will also help keep the silicone hydrogel clean and free of unwelcome particles, like skin oils, dust, and harmful bacteria. The American Optometric Association recommends that you scrub your hands carefully and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, followed by hand drying with unused paper towels. This should occur before every contact lens insertion and removal. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
COVID-19 can live on hard surfaces for 1-3 days. To sanitize glasses, fill a spray bottle with 3/4 alcohol (70% ethyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol), 1/4 water, and 2-3 drops of dish soap. Apply the solution and wipe any part of the frames that touch your face. This solution is only recommended for glasses without anti-reflective coating and not plastic lenses, as the alcohol can strip off the coating.
For most frames, adding a drop of soap to the surface and rubbing with your fingers will do a substantial job of removing any bacteria. Be sure to wash your hands first (to remove any oil) and don’t forget the nose pads!
To dry, shake off excess water and wipe with a microfiber cloth. Be mindful that using your shirt or paper could scratch the lenses. Microfibers can sometimes leave particles so if you don’t have a cloth, use a compressed air duster instead (like the one for your keyboard).
It’s currently unclear but why risk it? Bacteria can live on hair and lashes for short amounts of time. Stick to mascara for now and be sure to sanitize your brushes and applicators regularly.
Easy! Fill a spray bottle with 3/4 rubbing alcohol and 1/4 water, then apply to any brushes before every application. You can also use gentle shampoo periodically. Simply squirt a bit into a cup of warm water, then soak your sponges in the bubbly solution. Squeeze and rinse until the water runs clear. For brushes, swirl the tips in the water and shampoo, then in the palm of your hand to work up a lather. Next, run the bristles under warm water until there is no more product. Finally, lay all your brushes and sponges flat on a clean cloth to dry. Voila!
This article was reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Tsai, OD. Dr. Tsai practices optometry in New York City.
Information received through VSP Vision Care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Daniela Ginta — Updated on May 29, 2020
The basics
People who have diabetes are unable to produce enough insulin or use the insulin their body does produce in an efficient manner. This can affect your blood sugar levels. It’s important to monitor what you eat to keep your blood sugar levels as steady as possible.
One way to do this is by checking the glycemic index (GI) score of each food. The GI shows how much a certain food can increase your blood sugar levels. GI helps with the planning of daily meals and avoiding high-carbohydrate combinations. A low GI is between 1 and 55 and high is 70 and above.
It’s important to know that natural foods, such as garlic, though not rich in carbohydrates, can influence blood sugar levels.
Most adults can safely consume garlic. For some people, taste, odor, or spiciness can be an issue.
Traditionally, garlic has been recommendedTrusted Source to help reduce high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Garlic consumption may also reduce the incidence of heart disease, a condition that affects approximately 80 percent of people with diabetes.
A 2006 study found that raw garlic might help reduce blood sugar levels, as well as reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. This is particular interest, as diabetes increases a person’s risk of atherosclerosis-related inflammation.
Though this is still under investigation, a 2014 review of studiesTrusted Source also supported the idea that regular garlic consumption may help lower blood sugar levels.
Garlic is also a good source of vitamins B-6 and C. Vitamin B-6 is involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Vitamin C may also play a role in maintaining blood sugar levels.
In general, garlic has been shownTrusted Source to:
Garlic is quite potent both in taste and odor. Although it’s generally safe to eat, you may experience minor side effects. This includes:
You may be more likely to experience side effects if you eat raw garlic.
If you’re taking blood-thinning medications, consult your doctor. Garlic consumption may amplify the effects of these medications.
If you don’t mind the taste, add a couple of finely chopped garlic cloves to your salads or potato salad. There isn’t a standard dosage for eating garlic, so feel free to add garlic whenever a recipe or snack allows.
If you prefer a less strong odor and taste, look for garlic greens, which are young plants, and garlic scapes, which are curly shoots that appear as the plant matures. They’re available at farmers markets and local produce stores during the spring season. Both have a milder flavor. You can chop them and mix them in salads, dips, and savory spreads.
It’s recommended that you let chopped garlic sit for at least 5 minutes to allow allicin, one of the herb’s main components, to be at its highest concentration. This may enhance the herb’s potential health benefits.
If you find the taste of raw garlic too offensive or are unable to have it as often as you’d like, you may want to try supplements. Look for aged garlic extract or other garlic extracts that contain allicin.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing supplements:
You can use garlic to improve the taste and quality of meals. Consuming it may also help you maintain better levels of health. For best results, consume garlic regularly in moderate amounts. Cooking garlic lowers its potential therapeutic qualities, so be sure to use fresh and raw garlic in your dishes. Supplements are also an option, but you should consult with your doctor before using them.
23 Top-Notch Lunch Ideas for People with Diabetes
Figuring out what to eat for lunch every day can be challenging, especially for people with diabetes.
Fortunately, there are plenty of delicious, healthy, and easy-to-prepare options that can help round out your diet and keep blood sugar levels steady.
Here are 23 healthy and delicious lunch ideas for people with diabetes.
Burrito bowls are delicious and easy to tailor to your taste buds by adding your favorite ingredients.
To keep the carb content low, try using mixed greens as your base instead of rice, and top with beans, salsa, and grilled veggies.
You can also throw in some chicken, ground beef, or tofu to boost the protein content, which may support better blood sugar control (1Trusted Source).
Wraps are convenient, customizable, and portable, making them a great choice for lunch.
Turkey veggie wraps, in particular, are high in protein and feature a variety of fiber-rich vegetables, which can slow the absorption of carbohydrates to stabilize blood sugar levels (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).
Be sure to opt for whole wheat or low carb wraps and fill up on nutrient-dense ingredients, such as hummus, tomatoes, lettuce, and bell peppers.
Tuna salad is a healthy, high protein meal typically made with ingredients like tuna, celery, onions, and mayonnaise (3Trusted Source).
You can make it at home and boost the protein content by trading mayonnaise for Greek yogurt. Or, add more fiber with veggies like carrots, radishes, or tomatoes.
Pair your tuna salad with some whole wheat crackers for a simple lunch to enjoy at home, work, or school.
Stuffed bell peppers are often filled with meat or beans, mixed veggies, and whole grains like brown rice, couscous, or quinoa.
By choosing high protein and fiber-rich ingredients for your filling, you can easily make it a healthy, diabetes-friendly meal.
Lean sources of protein like ground beef or ground turkey are great choices, along with nutritious veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, garlic, and onions.
A chicken fajita bowl can be a healthy, flavorful lunch for people with diabetes.
They’re easy to prepare in advance and typically feature several foods high in protein and fiber that help keep your blood sugar levels in check, including chicken, brown rice, and veggies.
Be sure to pack on the vegetables to maximize the potential health benefits and top it off with a bit of salsa, avocado, or cilantro.
Buddha bowls are popular meals consisting of small portions of several different foods, typically plant-based proteins, veggies, and whole grains.
Not only can you mix and match the ingredients to add more protein and fiber to your diet, but you can also make it ahead for a simple and convenient meal to enjoy during the workweek.
Edamame, sliced avocado, quinoa, broccoli, red cabbage, cucumber, sweet potato, tofu, and carrots can all be great additions to your Buddha bowl.
Brown rice is considered a whole grain, meaning that it contains all three parts of the wheat kernel.
Some studies show that eating more whole grains could be linked to improved blood sugar control (4Trusted Source).
Brown rice is also rich in fiber, which can slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream to prevent spikes and crashes in your blood sugar levels (2Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).
Try pairing brown rice with stir-fried veggies and a lean protein source for a healthy and delicious lunch.
In addition to its high fiber content, quinoa is one of only a few available plant-based complete proteins. That means it contains all nine of the essential amino acids your body needs to obtain from food sources (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).
It also has a low glycemic index, which is a measure of how much certain foods affect your blood sugar levels (8Trusted Source).
Quinoa salad can be a simple and nutritious lunch option for people with diabetes. It’s easy to customize using whichever ingredients you have on hand, such as chickpeas, feta, cucumber, tomato, beans, avocado, onion, or bell pepper.
Not only are whole grain tortillas versatile and delicious, but they can also be a great addition to your lunch if you have diabetes.
In fact, one large whole grain tortilla contains nearly 7 grams of fiber to help keep blood sugar levels steady (9Trusted Source).
For an easy lunch, add your favorite spread, like hummus or tzatziki, to a whole grain tortilla with some fresh veggies and your choice of protein.
Whole grain pasta can be a healthy alternative to refined flour pasta, especially if you have diabetes.
Compared with regular pasta, whole grain pasta contains more than twice as much fiber per cooked cup (140 grams) (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).
In one small study, whole grain pasta was also more effective at reducing hunger and promoting feelings of fullness than refined pasta (12Trusted Source).
For the best results, load up on the veggies and include a good source of protein with your pasta, such as chicken, salmon, ground beef, or legumes.
Chicken is jam-packed with protein, providing nearly 24 grams per 3-ounce (85-gram) serving (13Trusted Source).
One review of 13 studies reported that following a high protein diet could reduce insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes, which could potentially improve blood sugar control (14Trusted Source).
Chicken is also easy to add to a variety of recipes and can be grilled, baked, roasted, or stir-fried.
Often found in convenient cans, packets, and pouches, tuna can be a healthy lunch option, high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
In one study, consuming a high protein, low glycemic index diet supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids improved blood sugar control and decreased belly fat in 30 people with type 2 diabetes (15Trusted Source).
You can easily add tuna to pasta, salad dishes, wraps, sandwiches, and casseroles for a healthy weekday lunch.
Turkey boasts a good amount of protein in each serving, with almost 25 grams in just 3 ounces (85 grams) (16Trusted Source).
It’s also low in fat and calories, making it a great option for those who are looking to lose weight.
Sliced turkey is perfect for wraps, pitas, and sandwiches. You can also try adding ground turkey to pasta dishes, taco salads, rice bowls, or homemade burger patties.
With 14 grams of protein in each 1/4-block (81-gram) serving, tofu is an excellent plant-based protein source for people with type 2 diabetes (17Trusted Source).
In fact, soy protein may benefit both blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity (18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).
Additionally, because it easily absorbs the flavor of the foods you pair it with, tofu is an incredibly versatile ingredient. Try adding it to veggie bowls, curries, soups, salads, or sandwiches for an easy make-ahead lunch.
Although eggs are a beloved breakfast staple, they can also be a great addition to your midday meal.
Though research has turned up conflicting results, several studies have found that regularly eating eggs could improve blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity for people with type 2 diabetes (20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).
Eggs are also versatile. For instance, hard-boiled eggs can bump up the protein content of salads and sandwiches, while scrambled eggs work well in wraps, veggie skillets, or rice dishes.
Rich in fiber, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C, spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet (22Trusted Source).
It also contains beneficial compounds like thylakoids, which have been shown to enhance insulin sensitivity, improve blood sugar control, and support feelings of fullness in human and animal studies (23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).
Plus, there are plenty of creative ways to enjoy spinach for lunch that go beyond salads. For example, try adding it to curries, soups, pasta dishes, or wraps. You can also sauté spinach and sprinkle it with some salt, pepper, and garlic for a simple side dish.
Apples are high in fiber and have a low glycemic index, making them a great dietary addition for people with diabetes (26Trusted Source, 27).
In fact, one small study found that eating an apple before a rice meal reduced the subsequent increase in blood sugar levels by 50%, compared with a control (28Trusted Source).
Apples can be enjoyed in place of dessert to help satisfy your sweet tooth. For example, try pairing them with a sprinkle of cinnamon or some nut butter. Alternatively, add sliced apples to chicken salads, grilled sandwiches, or even quesadillas for extra flavor.
Broccoli is highly nutritious, boasting nearly 3 grams of fiber in each cup (91 grams) (29Trusted Source).
It may also help stabilize blood sugar levels. For instance, one small study in 13 adults found that eating cooked broccoli alongside mashed potatoes reduced blood sugar and insulin levels more than eating mashed potatoes alone (30Trusted Source).
For a healthy lunch, try pairing roasted broccoli with brown rice, grilled chicken, and other veggies like zucchini, Brussels sprouts, or carrots.
Grapefruit has a unique tart, tangy flavor, perfect for bringing a refreshing zing to your lunch.
It also has a low glycemic index and has been shown to support healthy blood sugar and insulin levels in some animal studies (31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source).
Try making a tasty side salad for lunch by pairing fresh grapefruit with arugula, sliced avocado, cucumber, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Note that if you’re taking statins such as simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Altoprev), or atorvastatin (Lipitor), it’s advised to avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice.
Cauliflower is a nutritious vegetable packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folate, and vitamin K (33Trusted Source).
It’s also low in carbs and can be easily added to recipes in place of high carb ingredients like rice, flour, or potatoes.
Additionally, cauliflower makes a great side dish and can be roasted, boiled, or steamed.
