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January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, where we recognize the disease responsible for a large amount of vision loss.
Glaucoma is a medical condition where the eye’s intraocular pressure (IOP) increases to dangerously high levels. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness in the United States. There are roughly 3 million Americans who suffer from this condition, along with another 57 million worldwide. Previous research studies suggest that marijuana may not suit everyone; however, it might be worth considering if you are among those who struggle and suffer from glaucoma.
Medical marijuana has historically been used to relieve various medical conditions, from cancer to chronic pain. Old and new studies infer that marijuana may effectively treat glaucoma by significantly decreasing pressure within the eye. Multiple studies discovered that cannabinoids found in marijuana help reduce eye pressure levels regardless of the method of consumption. Research focusing on various consumption methods showed equal benefits whether taken orally or inhaled. Surprisingly, however, when researchers placed cannabinoids onto the eye directly, little to no effect was identified.
It Has Potential To Lower Intraocular Pressure
With the ability to lower intraocular pressure, marijuana has been studied as a therapy for glaucoma. Patients interested in using cannabis for glaucoma relief will learn what form and how much to take when consulting with the proper healthcare provider. These answers may vary according to individual factors such as eye strain or duration of exposure time. In most trials, a single dose of marijuana or cannabinoid was shown to maintain the desired effect and lasted three to four hours. However, to effectively control optic nerve damage resulting from glaucoma, an individual would need between six and eight doses per day for effective management.
While marijuana lowers IOP, it has some drawbacks and is not risk-free. Since the lower IOP is not long term, most patients still require prescription drops for extended pressure control.
It Helps a Debilitating Condition
Glaucoma is a debilitating medical condition classified into three types – open-angle, angle-closure, and normal-tension.
Open-angle glaucoma occurs when the drainage duct gets clogged. Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is the most common of the types and affects roughly 90% of patients. Healthcare providers can treat OAG with FDA-approved eye drops that work well if taken as prescribed to maintain visual health!
Angle-closure glaucoma, aka closed-angle glaucoma, can occur suddenly (acute angle-closure) or gradually (chronic angle-closure). In acute angle-closure glaucoma, the drainage duct suddenly becomes fully occluded, and this occlusion prevents fluid outflow from the eye, leading to dangerously high IOP. Acute closed-angle glaucoma is a true medical emergency resulting in permanent blindness if not treated soon enough. These patients will experience severe eye pain, headache, and vision loss due to the elevated IOP. This condition will require timely surgical intervention for relief.
Normal-tension glaucoma is a unique form of glaucoma that is not fully understood. Normal-tension glaucoma results in damage to the optic nerve despite normal IOP. It is thought to occur due to either increased nerve sensitivity or alterations in blood flow. Sometimes, these patients are treated with medicated eye drops that lower the IOP below the normal range.
Treatment With Marijuana
Several different drugs are effective at managing glaucoma and IOP. New research studies on medical marijuana usage and glaucoma have documented improvement in some patients. Still, due to the requirement to manage pressure 24 hours a day, Medical Marijuana is usually not a standalone solution for glaucoma.
There is still no FDA-approved form for medical use in America. Scientists and researchers can’t say what ingredients might trigger reactions differently among individual patients.
Various options exist to lower IOP, such as prescription eye drops, laser treatment, and surgery such as trabeculectomy. Trabeculectomy involves removing pieces of tissue from inside the eye and inserting an artificial tube called a shunt into the drainage channel.
The Positive & Negative Aspects
Medical marijuana can control the pressure in your eyes to reduce damage to the optic nerve. Studies have shown that cannabis can lower IOP for glaucoma patients and those without glaucoma. Experts aren’t sure how this works yet. No evidence suggests daily use will help prevent or slow down the progression of disease-related vision loss such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The good news is scientists continue to research and study the benefits that medical marijuana may hold.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
The benefit of medical marijuana in glaucoma sufferers is related to the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids, and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC contains high concentrations of various cannabinoids that have effectively lowered IOP.
Although glaucoma is a qualifying condition in Florida for Medical Marijuana usage, it is important to note that not all researchers agree with the findings. Many insist more long-term testing needs to be conducted before we can say anything definitive about how cannabis might affect one’s vision over time.
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