Smoking Marijuana May Help Lower Eye Pressure - April 18, 2017

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that can lead to vision loss and permanent blindness. Many factors contribute to the optic nerve damage, including elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Currently, three modalities are present:

• Medications –  in the form of oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
• Laser treatment
• Surgery

Benefits of Marijuana for Glaucoma

Despite the treatments available, there are some patients who use complementary therapies to control symptoms and treatment side effects.  One of the commonly discussed alternatives is the use of marijuana. It has been demonstrated that smoking marijuana lowers IOP for three to four hours in both normal individuals and in those with glaucoma.

Currently, glaucoma patients continue to rely on marijuana as a successful alternative treatment or as an addition to their prescription eye drops. If you have glaucoma and is considering medical marijuana, it is important to lower your eye pressure round the clock. Researchers estimate you would need to smoke a joint eight to 10 times daily to achieve this.

To find out if cannabis is best for your condition, use our online medical evaluation service.