Glaucoma Treatment Information and Glaucoma Symptoms

Posted on May 18th, 2007 by john

Glaucoma is caused by degeneration of the optic nerve, which controls vision. The most common forms are primary open-angle glaucoma, caused by increased pressure within the eye (increased intraocular pressure), and low-tension (normal pressure) glaucoma. Glaucoma can be caused by cataracts, uveitis (inner eye inflammation), eye tumor, injury, or diabetes. About one-fourth of those who have glaucoma don’t know it, because they may not be aware of the initial symptoms. This situation is worrisome because glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness. The older you are, the greater your risk. The higher your intraocular pressure, the greater the rate of vision loss.

Glaucoma Symptoms

Acute glaucoma is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Its symptoms include the following:

Nausea and vomiting
Seeing rainbow halos around objects, especially lights
Dilated pupils

Chronic glaucoma may have no symptoms until it is well established, at which point these symptoms are common:

Peripheral vision loss
Difficulty moving from a bright room to a darker room
Difficulty judging steps and curbs
Headaches
Need for new glasses
Tearing
Aching or throbbing pain
Visual field abnormalities (blurred vision and loss of peripheral vision)

What You Need to Know

Because glaucoma may occur without obvious symptoms, it is very important that you get routine eye exams, either by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist, to measure the pressure in your eyeball. In this painless test, drops are placed in your eyes to deaden any feeling, and then a device is placed against your eye to measure the pressure. Normal pressure is 21 mm/Hg. You should start having your eye pressure checked when you’re over 40-or sooner, if you have eye problems.

General Recommendations

Diet: Vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids are very important in reducing intraocular pressure and improving glaucoma. Fresh fruits and vegetables, and cold-water fish (such as herring, salmon, halibut, mackerel, cod, sardines, and tuna) are the best sources.

Your Herbal Healing Action Plan for Glaucoma Treatment

Acute glaucoma is an emergency and you should go to an emergency room if you have any of the symptoms previously listed.
For chronic glaucoma, if your peripheral vision is poor (you can’t see things on each side of you, only straight ahead), go to Step 7, then restart at Step 1.

Step 1: Use Conventional Prescription Medications

If you already have glaucoma, you should first be treated with conventional medications, which may include beta blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, miotics (pilocarpine), (XÂ2 agonlsts, or prostaglandin analogues, all of which decrease intraocular pressure. Because these medications all have different side effects and may interfere with other medications, your ophthalmologist should prescribe the specific drug or combination of drugs that is appropriate for you. These medications do not protect against loss of peripheral but they do decrease the pressure in your eyes and prevent the other complications and dangers of glaucoma, so they should be used first.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-both over-the-counter (such as fuuprofen and Aleve) and prescription (Naprosyn, Relafen, Orudis, Feldene, Daypro, Mabic, and others)-may interfere with some of these medications, so you should tell your doctor if you are taking any of them.

Step 2: Take Vitamin C, Flaxseed Oil, Bilberry with Bioflavonoids, and Chromium

Along with the previous step, I recommend you take supplements that can improve vision and can decrease intraocular pressure. These include the following:

Vitamin C, minimum of 2,000mg daily
Magnesium, 200mg to 400mg daily
Flaxseed oil, 1 tablespoon daily
Bilberry with bioflavonoids, 80mg (containing 25 percent anthocyanidin content) three times daily
Chromium 200mcg to 400mcg

Step 3: Undergo Infrasonic Treatment Information

Along with the previous steps, I recommend undergoing infrasound treatment, or low- frequency sound waves. Infrasound works by increasing the local circulation of blood and lymph, and it can decrease intraocular pressure in many patients. It may take 6 to 20 treatments ;More you see improvement. Numerous chiropractors, naturopaths, acupuncturists, and a few doctors use infrasound.

Step 4: Undergo Acupuncture Information

Acupuncture can reduce intraocular pressure and improve vision, and I recommend along with the previous steps. Principal acupuncture points usually are found on face, head, arms and legs. Ear points include vision 1 and vision 2. Always seek evaluation and treatment from a practitioner certified in acupuncture.

You should notice improved vision within six treatments, but you might need additional sessions to get the maximum benefits. If your intraocular pressure decreases acupuncture, you can then decrease the dosage of medications in Step 1 under the guidance of your doctor.

Step 5: Take Gingko Biloba

If your vision or intraocular pressure remains abnormal, try gingko biloba (240mg daily). This herb has only a mild effect on decreasing intraocular pressure, but it may be helpful along with the other steps.

Step 6: Evaluate Medicinal Marijuana

Marijuana has been shown to lower intraocular pressure and may help glaucoma patients who don’t respond to other treatments. However, the use of marijuana for medicinal poses remains illegal in most states and violates federal law nationwide.

Step 7: Undergo Glaucoma Surgery Information

If the previous steps fail to stop the progress of your symptoms, or if you have loss of peripheral (side) vision, you most likely will need surgery to preserve your vision. Either surgical trabeculectomy or laser trabeculoplasty, or both, can be done to protect further visual loss and decrease intraocular pressure. Consult an ophthalmologist (eye physician) to determine which procedure is the best for you.

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