Natural treatments for glaucoma
Natural treatments for glaucoma encompass various dietary supplements, herbs, and lifestyle modifications aimed at managing this eye condition characterized by optic nerve damage and potential vision loss. While there are no universally accepted natural treatments, several options are being explored. Ginkgo biloba, for instance, has shown some promise in improving vision in glaucoma patients through enhanced circulation, although further research is necessary. Forskolin, derived from the herb Coleus forskohlii, has been studied for its potential to reduce intraocular pressure, but it is not currently available for clinical use and should not be applied without professional guidance.
Other supplements like high-dose vitamin C, melatonin, and omega-3 fatty acids may also contribute to lowering intraocular pressure, but they should not replace standard medical treatments. Additionally, dietary changes, such as increasing the intake of leafy greens and omega-3-rich foods, along with lifestyle adjustments like regular exercise and stress reduction, are recommended to support overall eye health. While some substances, including curcumin from turmeric and certain cannabinoids, have been suggested as beneficial, more scientific validation is needed to substantiate their efficacy in treating glaucoma. Regular eye examinations remain crucial for those at risk, as early detection is key to preventing irreversible damage.
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Subject Terms
Natural treatments for glaucoma
- DEFINITION: Treatment of eye optic nerve damage that leads to impaired vision or blindness.
- PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: None
- OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Forskolin (from Coleus forskohlii), ginkgo biloba, Lycium barbarum, Diospyros kaki, Tripterygium wilfordii, magnesium, melatonin, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, curcumin (turmeric), caffeine, anthocyanin, coenzyme Q10, vitamin B3, saffron, bilberry, marijuana, lifestyle changes
Introduction
Glaucoma is a group of related diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and result in visual impairment or blindness. Most often, glaucoma occurs in the presence of increased intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye). However, glaucoma can also occur when intraocular pressure is normal (although treatment that reduces the pressure appears to benefit this kind of glaucoma, too).
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of legal blindness in the United States and is the leading cause of blindness in Black Americans. Most of the time, glaucoma presents no symptoms until permanent damage has been done. It is estimated that nearly three million Americans have glaucoma, and one-half do not know they have it. For this reason, regular checkups are advisable for people at high risk for glaucoma. Risk factors include African American descent, being sixty years of age and older, a family history of glaucoma, and the use of corticosteroid drugs (including steroid inhalers for asthma).
Physicians diagnose glaucoma by measuring intraocular pressure, by examining the optic nerve, and by special vision tests. Eye drops that reduce intraocular pressure are safe and highly effective for most cases of glaucoma.
Proposed Natural Treatments
A small, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that ginkgo extract, taken 120 milligrams daily for eight weeks, significantly improved vision in people with glaucoma. Ginkgo is thought to work by enhancing circulation.
Small, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials suggest that eye drops containing the chemical forskolin, a constituent of the herb Coleus forskohlii, reduce intraocular pressure in people without glaucoma. However, there is no evidence that forskolin is an effective treatment. In any case, forskolin is not available except for research, and using ordinary preparations of the herb directly in the eye is not recommended. (There is no reason to believe that the oral use of C. forskohlii will benefit glaucoma.)
Preliminary evidence suggests that certain dietary supplements, including high-dose vitamin C, melatonin, and omega-3 fatty acids, may also reduce intraocular pressure. However, there is no reliable evidence that any of these supplements enhance the effect of standard treatment, and they definitely cannot be used as substitutes for it. Weak evidence suggests that the supplement lipoic acid could improve vision in people with glaucoma. Magnesium has been suggested for the same purpose, but in one preliminary study, the use of magnesium failed to produce statistically significant benefits. The herbs bilberry, ginkgo, oregano, and pilocarpus, and the supplements citrus bioflavonoids and oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes are sometimes recommended for preventing or treating glaucoma. Still, additional scientific study is recommended.
Additional proposed natural treatments for glaucoma exist as well. Curcumin, the active ingredient in the herb turmeric, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce pressure related to glaucoma. Though more study is needed, marijuana has been suggested as a means to relieve intraocular pressure. Other cannabinoids, including cannabidiol, have also shown promise. Benefits can be found in changing one's diet to include more leafy green vegetables, which can increase blood flow to the optic nerve. Eating fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also benefit eye health. Increasing exercise, stopping smoking, reducing stress, and limiting caffeine are also natural ways to reduce the risk and manage the symptoms of glaucoma.
Bibliography
Dugdale, David C., and Brenda Conaway. Glaucoma - Symptoms and Causes. Penn Medicine, 22 Aug. 2022, www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/glaucoma. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.
"Glaucoma." Mayo Clinic, 30 Sept. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372846. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.
Ige, Maryam, and Ji Liu. "Herbal Medicines in Glaucoma Treatment." The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, vol. 93, no. 2, 2020, pp. 347-353.
"Preventing Vision Loss From Glaucoma." Weill Cornell Medicine, 18 Jan. 2022, weillcornell.org/news/preventing-vision-loss-from-glaucoma. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.
Sim, Ru Hui, et al. "Treatment of Glaucoma with Natural Products and Their Mechanism of Action: An Update." Nutrients, vol. 14, no. 3, 2022, p. 534, doi:10.3390/nu14030534.