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!!

This is really an interesting development. Thanks for finding it.

Hi AuntyAudrey

Thanks for that link. It's very interesting. Sorry to hear you've developed early glaucoma. Not what you need on top of neuropathy. I also have neuropathy (unconfirmed) and Sicca syndrome (dry eye).

Glaucoma's something I have to watch out for as I'm on steroids (maintenance dose for rest of life) for an autoimmune condition. Earlier this year I was told I had early signs of cataracts due to the steroids (after 5 years) so I'm figuring long term my prospects for avoiding glaucoma may be slim. A few years ago I did attend a seminar on glaucoma and the (standard) treatments for it but filed the info away and can't recall it just now. I'll try and do some follow up research on the info you provided.

Please let us know if you do try any alternative supplements and what the results (positive, negative or ineffective are). The CDP-Choline sounds a possibility.

All the best for finding answers.

Thank you, bluesfan, I will post again once I’ve done more research into possible alternative supplements.

I also developed dry eyes about a year ago, and discovered that artificial preservatives in eye lubricants can possibly damage the ocular surface, especially a product called BAK. Here is a link to an article that discusses the various products and preservatives:

http://www.dryeyezone.com/encycloped...ervatives.html

A few months ago I switched to Soothe lubricant eye ointment by Bausch & Lomb, which is preservative free.

Yes, mrsD, the article is quite interesting, but I only wish I didn’t have a reason to do the research.

The article says the retinal ganglion nerve cells connect the eye to the brain through the optic nerve, and speculates that damage in these cells is associated with glaucoma. I’m thinking that since demyelination as well as glaucoma can cause damage to the optic nerve, perhaps this process may also cause damage to the retinal nerve cells. But this is all just speculation on my part.

In any event, I will probably never know what caused my glaucoma, but I’m certainly going to do everything I can to slow it down.

Thanks for this - I used to be on 'Clear Eyes Plus' for my eyes - the individual tubes with no preservative which worked but would sometimes crystalise. Then about a year ago my optometrist put me on 'Systane balance' which contains a small amount of oil and works well (twice daily). I see it contains a small amount (0.001%) of Polyquad preservative - which the link you provided doesn't give particular warnings about but I will bookmark the site and see if it gets updated.

I have had glaucoma for at least 40 years. I started off using drops, timoptic and several others, was eventually referred to a glaucoma specialist whom I continue to see several times per year. I have had laser surgery where they put holes around the cornea for better drainage, used Xalatan,the drops that make your eye lashes grow (very glamorous!), when I reached the age where I needed cataract surgery, he did a combination of that plus a drain and for several years after that, I didn't need any drops at all. Now I use two different eye drops in my worst eye, Istalol and Simbrinza, morning and evening. I can still read 20/20 on the eye chart. They used to get concerned if the pressure got close to 20, now they want it even lower, 12-15. I drive and continue to do most of the things I've always done, just at a slower pace. With PN, I don't overdo or my feet start burning and I have trouble sleeping then.

I thought glaucoma was hereditary--both my parents developed it in their later years, but I was in my early 40's when my ophthalmologist started treating me (he always checked my pressure because of my parents' history of the disease). I found the article very interesting and wonder if there's a connection to PN or if we are just more susceptible to nerve problems--I used to have migraines too. I got interested in nutrition years ago trying to find something natural to cure my migraines.

I've always taken a lot of supplements, lutein w/zeaxanthin, plus antioxidants, and the regular recommended PN supplements, including Morton's Epsom lotion as well as eating gluten-free, no night shades , etc. I have also used Sustane following eye surgery.

Both of my ophthalmologists believe in treating glaucoma aggressively and for me, it has worked. I have an old friend back in Nebraska, whose doctor never wanted her pressure over 25, and she is now blind, solely dependent upon her husband.

Hi Joano, thank you for your input! It is really good to know that you’ve been able to manage your glaucoma successfully for such a long period of time.

I’m finding it is taking a lot more time than I expected for me to research this topic, but I want to make sure I’m ready when I see my doctor again.

Do you remember if you ever had to discontinue any glaucoma medications that were prescribed for you because of side effects you experienced from them?

Yes, several--sometimes they just stop working, i.e. bringing the pressure down, and fortunately, they seem to be developing new drops all the time that they think are more effective.