Glaucoma is an eye condition that may lead to blindness. There’s no cure, but reducing pressure inside the eye can help manage symptoms and may prevent blindness. Some natural treatments could help relieve glaucoma symptoms, but proceed with caution.

Glaucoma is a chronic eye condition and one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. It’s caused by increased pressure on the optic nerve and retina due to a buildup of fluid in the eye. Glaucoma can get worse over time and may damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss or blindness.

While glaucoma cannot be cured, certain treatments can reduce your intraocular pressure (IOP), the internal pressure in your eye. The goal of these treatments is to manage symptoms and maintain or possibly restore vision.

Some natural treatments for glaucoma have the potential to help reduce IOP and improve uncomfortable symptoms, though most are not backed by strong evidence.

Certain natural treatments could help manage or reduce glaucoma symptoms. These products and supplements have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties that could offer protective effects against glaucoma.

While the effectiveness of most alternative therapies is debatable, up to 40% of those who use them believe the natural treatments help their glaucoma.

Among the most commonly used natural treatments are ginkgo biloba extract, bilberry extract, and medical cannabis.

Use with care

While the benefits of many natural treatments for glaucoma are not proven, most of them carry low risk and minimal side effects. However, always consult with your doctor before adding natural supplements to any existing treatment regimen, as interactions are possible.

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE)

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is processed from the leaves of the ginkgo tree and is well known for its strong antioxidant properties. For glaucoma treatment, the antioxidant, vasoregulatory, and anti-inflammatory benefits of GBE are considered potential neuroprotective agents.

Research on how ginkgo biloba could benefit glaucoma is inconclusive. Some studies report improved visual fields and blood flow in people taking ginkgo biloba, while other studies could not confirm any significant benefits. Despite any definitive evidence, many people continue to use GBE to either supplement current glaucoma therapies or by itself.

Ginkgo biloba extract is generally well tolerated, but side effects could include nausea, dizziness, and stomach pain. People taking blood-thinning medications should speak with a doctor before taking ginkgo biloba.

Bilberry

Bilberry is a small fruit native to Norther Euprose that is similar to a blueberry. Like blueberries, they have strong antioxidant properties and bilberry extract has been rumored to help with eye health concerns.

While bilberry extract has been touted for its ability to help dry eyes, macular degeneration, night vision, and retinopathy, no consistent evidence has been found to support these claims.

A small study did show that an extended course of bilberry extract relieved eye strain for people exposed to computer terminals and near vision tasks, but it is not known if this could be helpful for glaucoma.

Medical cannabis

Often considered purely a recreational drug, cannabis has been used as a medication for many years. Several states now allow the use of medical cannabis, primarily for conditions requiring pain management and certain chronic conditions.

Medical cannabis has been shown to lower IOP in some people with glaucoma, reducing their symptoms by almost 30%. It may also have neuroprotective benefits by preventing cell death and reducing free radicals.

However, the symptom relief from medical cannabis is brief, about three to four hours. This means that you would need to ingest cannabis every few hours for continued relief. Additionally, medical cannabis can have adverse effects, including elevated heart rate, decreased tears, dry eyes, and an addictive potential.

These adverse effects are significant enough that medical cannabis is not recommended for long-term glaucoma management.

Natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of these products could offer neuroprotective effects on retinal ganglion cells, the cells that send visual information to the brain:

  • Saffron: A spice with antioxidant properties, saffron supplementation shows potential as a safe supplementary therapy for certain eye diseases.
  • Caffeine: There is a weak association between caffeine intake and lowered IOP, though this relationship seems to shift in people who are genetically predisposed to a higher IOP.
  • Curcumin: Derived from turmeric, curcumin is a strong anti-inflammatory. A recent study shows the potential for eye drops containing concentrated curcumin to help with glaucoma progression.
  • Anthocyanin: Found in red and purple berries and grapes, anthocyanin may improve blood flow in the eyes.
  • Coenzyme Q10: A powerful antioxidant, coenzyme Q10 has neuroprotective properties and could be useful in glaucoma treatment.
  • Lycium barbarum: A Chinese herb, L. Barbarumshows promise as a preventive supplement against glaucoma and may help slow disease progression. More studies are needed in this area.
  • Persimmon leaves (Diospyros kaki):Extracts of persimmon leaves could be effective in lowering IOP and treating glaucoma.
  • Tripterygium wilfordii.Used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, T. wilfordiimay improve retinal ganglion cell survival. However, its toxicity and side effects need to be improved.

Natural products that may reduce IOP

Other natural products and supplements have gained popularity for glaucoma treatment due to other properties that may have the potential to lower IOP.

  • Baicalein: An herb in traditional Chinese medicine, baicalein has been shown to reduce IOP in rats. More studies are needed to determine how it is best used for those with glaucoma.
  • Forskolin: A medicinal plant native to Southeast Asia, forskolin may reduce eye fluid formation, thus reducing IOP.
  • Ginsenoside: An extract of ginseng, ginsenoside supplementation may improve dry eye syndrome in those with glaucoma.
  • Resveratrol: Found in berries and red wine, resveratrol may reduce retinal ganglion cell death.
  • Hesperidin: A substance found in citrus, hesperidin was shown to reduce IOP in animal studies.

Get involved

If you’d like to help researchers learn more about how natural supplements and alternative treatments can treat glaucoma, visit ClinicalTrials.gov. You can search for trials relevant to glaucoma treatments or any supplement that you are interested in.

Always discuss participation in a clinical trial with your primary healthcare professional, especially if it will involve changes to your current glaucoma treatments.

While using natural treatments for glaucoma may seem tempting, it’s important to keep in mind that there are some risks involved.

Some things to be cautious of when considering natural remedies:

  • most supplements and herbs are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and have varying degrees of safety
  • some supplements could be harmful if taken incorrectly or in the wrong amounts
  • there is a risk of side effects with any medication or natural supplement
  • natural treatments could negatively affect your current treatment, if used together
  • some supplements or herbs can increase your risk of bleeding, especially with certain medications
  • there is no data to show that natural treatments can alter the course of glaucoma
  • some supplements can be expensive without providing results

More evidence is needed to confirm the benefits of natural supplements. Many scientific studies were conducted on animal models and are not yet confirmed safe or effective for use in people. It’s important to set realistic goals when using natural supplements and be aware of what health outcomes to expect.

There is no cure for glaucoma, but certain medications may slow its progression and ease symptoms. Current standard treatments for glaucoma include:

  • Medications: These are usually in the form of eye drops that lower internal eye pressure. They can often have side effects such as stinging or itching, red eyes, dry mouth, or blurry vision.
  • Laser surgery: Outpatient surgeries such as trabeculoplasty or iridotomy can help fluid drain from the eye, reducing pressure.
  • Open surgeries: Three surgical procedures can create a new drainage pathway for eye fluid. These surgeries are more invasive than laser surgery and include:

Glaucoma is a progressive eye condition that could result in blindness. It’s caused by increased pressure on the optic nerve and retina due to fluid buildup in the eye. There is no cure for glaucoma, but standard treatments aim to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) and maintain vision.

Some natural treatments and supplements, such as ginkgo biloba, bilberry extract, and medical cannabis, have shown promise in relieving glaucoma symptoms. Their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are potential benefits in glaucoma treatment.

However, while some people may seem to find relief with these natural treatments, scientific evidence is inconclusive.