Glaucoma Treatment Options

Overview:

Technically, glaucoma is due to optic nerve damage, sometimes due to increased pressure of the clear, watery fluid that circulates within the eye and sometimes from other causes. The diagnosis is no longer solely based on whether a person’s Intraocular Pressure (IOL) is elevated or not.

Primary Glaucoma:  Symptoms are caused primarily by glaucoma

• Open Angle or Chronic Glaucoma - is most common. The trouble is that the eye's "filter" does not filter the inner fluid efficiently.
  
  Even though elevated eye pressure is one of the diagnostic tests used for glaucoma, approximately 30-40 percent of patients with open angle glaucoma have normal or low eye pressure and still develop optic nerve changes and progressive vision loss.
  
  The complementary protocol is recommended for open angle glaucoma.
  
  
• Normal Pressure Glaucoma (also known as low pressure or low tension glaucoma) Glaucoma is present although the eye pressure is normal (between 12-22 mm Hg). This is usually a sign of poor circulation. Heart problems, brain tumors, or toxic drugs can all produce optic nerve damage that may present as glaucoma.
  
  The complementary protocol is recommended for normal/low pressure glaucoma.
  
  
• Glaucoma Suspects are people with higher than normal eye pressure but never develop glaucoma. These people should be monitored regularly.
  
  The complementary protocol is recommended for those at risk for open angle glaucoma.
  
  
• Congenital Glaucoma may occur in the first few months of life.
  
  
• Narrow Angle Glaucoma (acute) is an ocular emergency. Here there is an obstruction in the drainage of the acqueous fluid due to a narrowing of the angle between the base of the iris and the cornea. The symptoms can be a sudden, painful red eye, nausea, vomiting, headache and visual halos. In the event of these symptoms go directly to the emergency room and call your ophthalmologist.
  

Secondary Glaucoma:  Glaucoma develops secondarily to other conditions, such as inflammation, injury, or drug side effects (such as from steriods).

Symptoms:

• Reduced peripheral vision
• Intraocular pressure (IOP) greater than 21, or where there is a large discrepancy in IOP’s between the two eyes.
• Optic cup asymmetry

Causes:

• Excessive Computer Use - has been identified as a possible contributor to glaucoma
  
  
• High level of stress - has been implicated as a major cause of chronic glaucoma. For example, stress causes us to breath shallowly, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, causing venous backflow in the head. This effects the eyes ability to revolve eye fluids, which results in increased pressure.
  
  
• Nutritional Deficiencies and Poor Digestion - Often sufferers of glaucoma are deficient in some or many of the important nutrients including essential fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, taurine, antioxidants, bioflavenoids, zinc, selenium, vitamin B-complex.
  
  
• Poor digestion often results from a lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach needed to breakdown food, which becomes more common as we age. Use of excessive antibiotics is also a prime culprit in poor digestion due to the killing of important stomach flora.
  
  
• Family history of glaucoma
  
  
• Other chronic diseases that can raise IOP’s include obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease (insufficient blood flow to the eyes), or thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism).
  
  
• Being African-American (glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among this population)
  
  
• Extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness (higher level and a risk of angle closure)
  
  
• Steroid use, often in the form of eyedrops, nosedrops or inhalants (elevates IOL pressure mildly in approximately 16% of people on steroids).
  
  

Drugs that can cause glaucoma and damage the optic nerve: (see "Drugs That Harm the Eyes" for a more complete list of harmful drugs:)

• NSAID’s-(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Bayer, Aleve), flurbiprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen sodium. Also Tylenol (acetaminophen), though not an NSAID, can be harmful.
• Venlafaxine
• Steroids - cortisone prescriptions such as Prednisone are the most damaging drugs to the eyes of any prescription drugs. If you must take any of these drugs, be sure to supplement your diet with anti-oxidants such as vitamins E and C, and beta-carotene. Ask your doctor if you can replace Prednisone with a natural cortisone such as hydrocortisone.
• Simvastatin
• Fenfluramine
• Mirtazapine
• Gastic antispasmodics
• Antidepressants

• Studies show patients can reduce their eye pressure by five to seven millimeters with an improved diet and supplement program. In general, a diet high in betacarotene, vitamins C and E, and sulfur-bearing amino acids are recommended. Foods containing those nutrients include garlic, onions, beans, spinach, celery, turnips, yellow and orange vegetables, green leafy vegetables, seaweed, apples, oranges and tomatoes.
  
  
• Daily juicing of vegetables and fruits (preferably organic). Our glaucoma recipe is some combination of the following: celery, carrots, cucumber, radish, turnip, parsley, beets, cabbage, raspberries, plums, apple (not too much fruit). For more information, see the article on juicing tips.
  
  
• Drink lots of water - 8-10 glasses of purified water. Avoid carbonated, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. They can actually dehydrate your eyes.
  
  
• Manage your stress - meditate, take a walk in nature, practice yoga, visualization techniques or prayer on a daily basis.
  
  
• Exercise daily - do at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. Walking and swimming are two excellent forms of exercise.
  
  
• Eye exercises can help to bring energy and blood to the eyes, thereby helping to drain away toxins or congestion to the eyes.
  
  
• Avoid foods to which you are allergic: a study of 113 patients with chronic simple glaucoma showed IOP increases of up to 20 millimeters when they were exposed to foods to which they were allergic.
  
  
• Manage stress. Take up meditation, yoga, tai chi, or any practice that helps you relax.
  
  
• Supplement your diet with a good multivitamin such as One Plus Multivitamin and/or a good "green drink" like Paleogreens.
  
  

The following nutritional supplements are recommended in treating glaucoma.

Essential: Coleus Forskohlii Root 2 oz - Coleus Forskolii Liquid Extract is effective in helping lower intraocular pressure - 2 oz organic extract

Essential: Carlson's Finest Omega-3 Fish Oil(200 ml)

Essential: Macula Complete Formula

Very Important: Alpha R-Lipoic Acid 100 - 50mg caps - Alpha R-Lipoic Acid 50mg 60 vcapsules (bioactive ALA)

Very Important: Vitamin B12 Sublingual Tablets - 100 tabs

Helpful: ReVision Formula - for overall eye health

Helpful: PaleoGreens - PaleoGreens 265 gms - excellent Green Drink combining a variety of organic vegetables, organic fruits and wheatgrasses.

Natural Eye Care: CD & Book: Covers natural approaches for 29 common eye conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, floaters, dry eyes, myopia, hyperopia & presbyopia. Includes nutrition, diet & lifestyle recommendations, eye exercises, vision & personality, visual hygiene, and more!

Conventional Treatment:

Treatment depends on the nature and severity of each case. Commonly, open angle glaucoma is treated with eyedrops or oral medications. In the event this treatment does not lower the eye pressure inside the eye, laser therapy or surgery may be necessary.

Alternative Treatment Research

See glaucoma studies regarding alpha lipoic acid, diet, computer use, exercise, omega-3, stress, thiamine, B12 & C.

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