What is Glaucoma

The term glaucoma actually refers to a whole group of diseases, each of which gradually erodes the sight without warning.  The disease often has no warning signs in the early stages and some experts suggest that half of the people affected by glaucoma don’t even know they have it.

This loss of vision is caused by damage to the optic nerve, which is responsible for carrying the images from the eye to the brain and, as yet, there is no cure.  It is known that one of the risk factors for glaucoma is raised intra-ocular pressure (IOP), that is, raised pressure within the eyeball.

Marijuana and Glaucoma

Way back in the early 1970’s studies were undertaken that proved marijuana lowered IOP, both in patients with glaucoma and patients with normal IOP.  Following on from this, the National Eye Institute (NEI) supported studies that demonstrated marijuana did indeed lower the IOP when administered intravenously, orally, or by smoking.  When applied directly to the eye, however, the pressure lowering effect was not seen.  It was also found that the lowered pressure was only transient and soon rose to pre-medication level.

The NEI position statement on glaucoma and marijuana sadly suggests that they are not in favor of pursuing marijuana as a treatment.  They are particularly concerned because, they say, ‘the high dose of marijuana necessary to produce a clinically relevant effect on IOP in the short term requires constant inhalation, as much as every three hours.’

No drug is perfect and it is a fact that many elderly patients with glaucoma cannot tolerate the increased heart rate that cannabis frequently causes, despite the 25% reduction in IOP.

The World Health Organization position statement on marijuana and glaucoma is dramatically different from that of the NEI:

‘While THC has long been known to reduce the increased intraocular pressure of glaucoma, it has not been fully studied therapeutically….

Therapeutic uses of cannabinoids are being demonstrated by controlled studies in the treatment of glaucoma.’

Glaucoma affects more than 60 million people worldwide and, after cataracts, it is the leading cause of blindness. With its epidemiology, it stands to reason that there is ongoing research to find drugs that work ways other than the reduction of IOP.  Scientists have also discovered CB1 receptors in the eye, which suggests that cannabis may work in ways other than reduction of IOP, an area worthy of future research.

There is also some suggestion of adding cannabis to pharmaceutical eye drops.

What Marijuana Strains Help Glaucoma

  • Medicine Woman
  • TX
  • Lollipop

Medical Marijuana helps these conditions

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Author Dianne Morgan

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Join the discussion 8 Comments

  • jonas comfort says:

    I am very happy today because i never thought i would be able to leave up till this day and see with my two eyes again. I suffered glaucoma for several years. i looked for how to get rid of this but could not found any solution, I was having Vision that is Cloudy, Blurry, Filmy, Nearsightedness, changes in the way I see color, problem driven in the night (for example glare from oncoming headlights) have gone to several hospitals to seek for cures but all they say is that I must undergo surgery. I was scared and I was not having enough money, because I have spent all my money in medications , i was on Facebook on Saturday morning then there was an health group which i was asked to join by a friend immediately after i joined it i saw some post of people giving thanks to this doctor that he has cured them of their glaucoma i was so surprised about this i collected the doctors contact and i thought of it for about 2 good days then i concluded in giving him a try because there was no harm in trying. when i contacted Doctor Chukwu he told me he was going to prepare a herbal medicine for me which i was going to take for 2 weeks and after that i should go for a test at any of the hospitals, after i did everything which he asked me to do i received the medicine the next two days from a courier company which i started taking immediately after about a week plus i felt some strange moves in me, i felt like i was getting better when i completed the medicine i went for a test in the Hospital were i was diagnosed Glaucoma, i thought i was dreaming i went to another hospital it was still the same result then i believed i was total cure and free from Glaucoma here is his contact details for anyone who is passing true any kind of sickness or disease he will be willing to help you too. (drchukwu22@gmail.com) cell phone number (+2348154800222) website :http://drchukwuhealinghome.simplesite.com

  • cory says:

    I wish they would hurry up and make it legal in virginia. im struggling with this glaucoma, kneck pain, back pain and knee pain. eye drops dnt work anymre. pain killers dntt work anymre. please help get it legalized in virginia please. i need your help.

  • Glaucoma says:

    I believe that glaucoma is a problem to take care of. Great information.

  • Willy says:

    I have had Glucoma for 27 years.

    It has always been a constant battle to keep the pressure lower than 15 in each eye. I recently tried 2 members of the kush family, Bubba and Purple. The night before my first visit in Jan 2011 at 9:30 pm I took two hits off purple.

    The next day at 8:30 am my doctor checked the pressure (no drops before these visits the pressure was 13/14 down from 15. A month later same thing and time pressure 11/9. First time I have ever tried marijuana in my life and I am a beliver and have the proof.

  • Blinky says:

    I have glaucoma. Dad went blind from it,diabetic.

    I take the Travistan drop. One per eye nightly. I have a friend who had the same syptoms. Her pressure dropped, and so did her use of the drops, when she began useing weed. I don’t have that option,probation, and thusly feel limited in a serious medical option.

    The drops are about 200 bucks a month. What seems funny to me is that these drops contain the same stuff they sell to grow eyelashes.

    Why is it 200 a month for me but they can afford to put it in masscera. Life’s strange?

  • Ed Jr says:

    I have going to a Optometrist.I have high pressure in my eyes she is going to start me on drops.Do you have any other ideas that might slow down the on set of glaucoma ??? My mother had glaucoma

  • glaucoma says:

    Glaucoma is usually deemed condition of the eye wherein sensitiveness to ocular pressure leads to retinal and optic nerve harm. It is one of the reason for eye failure. Chronic glaucoma is known as the sly robber of eyesight as one has no signs or symptoms, it is difficult to detect.

    There are many risk factors associated with Chronic glaucoma like age, eye irregularities, family history, hypertension, headaches etc.

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