Research Alert: New Help for Glaucoma

One of the scariest vision changes that can happen to anyone, from infant to adult, is glaucoma. This very common condition is caused by an imbalance between the production and outflow of fluid in the eye. Left unchecked, it can lead to a loss of peripheral vision, or “tunnel vision” that can make daily life difficult—and driving far more dangerous if not impossible.

The only available treatment to stop the progression of glaucoma is lowering intraocular (inside the eye) pressure, which is achieved mainly through the use of prescription eye drops, which must be used twice daily for the rest of the person’s life and are known to cause considerable local and systemic side effects.

Fortunately, there is other help:

1. Vitamin C supplementation is safer and far more effective than traditional drug treatment for glaucoma. At 1,500 mg daily, using this vitamin has led to almost-normal eye pressure levels. In an acute situation, vitamin C can be given intravenously to affect a greater initial pressure reduction.

2. There’s also a new nutrient combination on the market called Mirtogenol™ which includes two highly researched herbal ingredients: Mirtoselect^® bilberry extract and Pycnogenol^® French maritime pine bark extract. Mirtogenol has been studied in several clinical trials with huge success. It's just now becoming available in the U.S. You can find it in some health food stores and online.

3. Could allergies be the culprit? Less commonly known is the relationship between glaucoma and allergies. In one study, 113 patients were either given allergenic foods or exposed to environmental allergens. Almost immediately, most of the study subjects’ intraocular pressure shot up, then down again once the allergen was eliminated. It’s important to determine potential allergens and avoid them.

Now it’s your turn: Has glaucoma been an issue for you? What natural remedies have you sought out to treat it?

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