An Introduction to Glaucoma

Introduction

Refs. 1-3 provide some information on nutrition and eyesight. Ref. 4, although it has a provocative title, also provides useful information.

Glaucoma

"There have been quite a few papers published on reducing intraocular pressure with high oral doses of vitamin C. About 15 of them are discussed in a wonderful book with the unassuming title of The Healing Factor, written by Irwin Stone. Part of chapter 20 deals with glaucoma." Dr. Andrew Saul (4)

"The 1962 paper by Heath (1), with forty references to the literature, reviewed the work on ascorbic acid and the eye. He cited twelve separate biochemical processes in which ascorbic acid is involved and speculated on the functions of ascorbic acid in the eye and its possible involvement in diabetic retinopathy, detachment of the retina, and maintenance of the proper consistency of the internal fluids of the eye. It has been known since the early 1930s that ascorbic acid is normally found in the eye at much higher levels than in the blood and in many other tissues."
Irwin Stone (The Healing Factor)

Stone influenced the great Linus Pauling. Pauling met with Stone and read Stone's book about vitamin C.

"Linner (2), in 1964 in Sweden, showed that 0.5 grams of ascorbic acid administered twice daily produced a significant drop in the intraocular pressure of normal eyes. He published another paper, in 1969, in which he showed that 2 grams of ascorbic acid a day, orally, produced the same significant decrease in glaucomatous eyes ." Stone (Ch. 20, The Healing Factor)

Refs. 5-36 provide more information on ascorbic acid as a treatment for glaucoma. There are also drugs that are used in the form of eye drops. These include timolol opthamologic and combigan, which contains timolol opthamologic as well as another ingredient. Unfortunately these drugs have many interactions with other drugs including over-the-counter medicines. The interactions weaken the effectiveness of the drops. More information on these interactions, which includes interactions with aspirin, is given at www.drugs.com .

Integrative Medicine

The term "integrative medicine" was invented by Dr. Andrew Weil (37). Dr. Weil discusses glaucoma and its treatments on his excellent website. Peripheral vision is lost first. There are various types of glaucoma including open angle glaucoma. Although Weil is not an ophthalmologist, I was impressed by his discussion of the complex and very important subject. He wrote that oral medicines are also used as treatments (in addition to drops). Surgery is sometimes used to reduce the ocular pressure.

Weil favors conventional treatments as well as certain alternative approaches. You should lower your caffeine intake and stop smoking. There are claims that smoking marijuana, unlike cigarettes, can lower the intraocular pressure (inside the eyeball). Weil favors excercise including "brisk" walking. He feels that this helps the circulation. He also favors vitamin C as well as other antioxidants. Weil is more conservative than Dr. Saul. However, Weil would be considered more liberal than ophthalmologists.

Conclusions

As usual, more research needs to be done. However, a massive amount of research has already been done (see the references). We should take advantage of the research that has already been done. If there is interest, I might write a sequel with more information about drug interactions and glaucoma drugs. I am also interested in the causes of glaucoma, although aging is a factor. Heredity can also be a factor. There is a possibility that some drugs may cause glaucoma as a side effect.

References

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2. Cheraskin and Ringsdorf , Psychodietetics , Bantam, 1974

3. Hoffer and Walker, Orthomolecular Nutrition, Keats, 1978

4. www.doctoryourself.com .

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37. www.drweil.com .