New Research into Glaucoma: A form of Nerve Damage?
 

Hello everyone, I am a retired academic who was looking forward to a nice pleasant retirement before being diagnosed with a demyelination condition. These days I am mostly home bound with severe mobility problems and neuropathy.

Last week I was dealt another blow when my opthamologist informed me that I have early glaucoma in both of my eyes. He said there are no effective supplements for glaucoma and that he will prescribe medications for me in the near future after more testing. I am not keen on prescription medications and do believe that some supplements may be helpful.

Being a curious person, I began wondering if my glaucoma could be related to nerve damage caused by my demyelination. I found an article saying that “ some top researchers no longer consider glaucoma solely an eye disease, but rather a neurologic disorder with some similarities to Parkinson disease and Alzheimer's.”

Here is a link to the article, which is brief and can be read quickly:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0307094659.htm

Here are a few excerpts from the article:

“Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. For many years, the prevailing theory was that vision damage in glaucoma patients was caused by abnormally high pressure inside the eye, known as intraocular pressure (IOP).”

“But even when surgery or medication successfully lowers IOP, vision loss continues in some glaucoma patients......The new research paradigm focuses on the damage that occurs in a type of nerve cell called retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which are vital to the ability to see. These cells connect the eye to the brain through the optic nerve.
RGC-targeted glaucoma treatments now in clinical trials include: medications injected into the eye that deliver survival and growth factors to RGCs; medications known to be useful for stroke and Alzheimer's, such as cytidine-5-diphosphocholine; and electrical stimulation of RGCs, delivered via tiny electrodes implanted in contact lenses or other external devices.”



The article mentions trials of cytidine-5-diphosphocholine, which is already marketed as CDP-Choline and is available as a supplement from places like iherb. I may try this supplement to help prevent further progression of the glaucoma, but I need to do more research.

I would be very interested to hear back from anyone who has glaucoma about what your experiences have been regarding use of supplements and medications to treat the condition.

This post is also being duplicated on another forum. Thank you!!

Sorry to hear about the glaucoma dx, my neighbor who is 87 and deals with too many health issues but is alternative minded. She went thru hip replacement same year I did, so we lament on this too.

Anyway, she deals with glaucoma and I know she goes to jules stein at ucla a couple times per year and does the meds they give for glaucoma. Now, she's been taking grape seed extract for probably 5 yrs and WISHES she knew about it years ago... In talking to her over some years, I believe she claims years of taking Midol caused glaucoma and hearing loss. She rarely will take an advil now and she has plenty of pain, but uses her MIND as best she knows thru mind work to stay off any more drugs. Everytime, she sees a doc, they want to give her a new drug and she comes home with the list of possible side effects and does not fill any scripts.

Do research on the OPC's for eye issues....Personally, I have not gone for an eye exam for probably 8 yrs, my eyes are not changing in the negative direction so WHY, I say. I believe my OPC's are saving me in so many health issues and preventing many others... This is my thinking on my own health at almost 77.

There are homeopathics for eye issues also.

I think you have read enough of my positions on complimentary/alternatives for healing and prevention (Hopefully)....


PS: I just did a search: glaucoma and grape seed extract ---- there were many hits


ASTAXANTHIN is another powerful antioxidant, I don't know if it's considered in the OPC's family, but I know about it and it's used for treating eye issues like macular degeneration and I think I've read Parkinson's and others....I'll read more on it, I don't take it, as the ones I take do a good job for me.

Thanks for your response, Caroline. I know OPCs are supposed to be good for treating glaucoma, but my problem is that I get a severe allergic reaction whenever I try to take them. Grape seed extract seems to be worse for me than pycnogenol. I’ve also gotten similar reactions to red wine extract and resveratrol.

The astaxanthin is interesting. I’ve read a lot of good things about it, but I haven’t tried it yet. I do take lutein with zeaxanthin, and Life Extension has a product that combines all three together in one softgel.

Oh dear, a reaction to grape ...I haven't heard that that I can recall. Talking to my friend a little bit ago, she claims glaucoma came on from computer use.

I take lutein/bilberry too, too bad about the issue with grapes. Can you take Pycnogenol, it's from pine bark, and I took PYC for the first year back when I started this path. It's noted for glaucoma treatment too. I get my Pyc from swansons and buy 100mg caps...make up a moisturizer cream and use the powder from caps of Pyc.

I just drank 1/2 bottle Revive, so got 440mg potassium. C

I’ve been looking into New Zealand blackcurrants as a potential supplement to help prevent the progression of glaucoma. There is also an article about these blackcurrants on the Health News Headlines today, “Latest Brain Food Found in New Zealand.”

Blackcurrants have been shown to have beneficial effects on glaucoma patients:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22377796

Jarrow has a freeze dried extract available in capsule form:

http://www.iherb.com/Jarrow-Formulas...gie-Caps/15600

I would be trying everything within reason, I always check amazon and all their reviews...on everything.

I've been using Similasan Dry Eye homeopathic drops for years, I get nervous when I get low on my supply. Keeps my eyes more moist.