Too much pressure inside your eye may cause damage to your optic nerve, a condition called glaucoma. Certain nutrients could affect glaucoma, and glaucoma patients must learn about possible interactions. One supplement doctors commonly recommend is niacin, also known as vitamin B3. Niacin may help lower cholesterol levels, among other possible health benefits. Knowing the way niacin may affect glaucoma will help you discuss your concerns with your doctor and help reduce your risk for glaucoma damage.
Eye Pressure
The front of your eye contains fluid called aqueous, and your eye continuously drains fluid as more enters your eye. In some people, the aqueous cannot drain properly, resulting in increased intraocular pressure. This high pressure can reduce the blood flow to the back of your eye, specifically to your optic nerve. These nerve fibers play an important role in sending visual information to your brain. If too much pressure damages your optic nerve, if left untreated, it could slowly damage your side vision.
Niacin Effects
Niacin may cause an increase in eye pressure in some patients, but this may not occur for every glaucoma patient. If your doctor recommends that you take niacin for health conditions, you should discuss this with your eye doctor. She may recommend taking baseline eye pressures before you begin niacin therapy, and periodically checking your pressure. If she notices an increase, she may ask you to stop taking niacin for a time, and then recheck the pressure. If the pressure increases while on niacin and reduces when you stop taking niacin, this will indicate the way your body responds to niacin therapy.
Treatment
If your eye doctor determines that niacin causes an increase in your pressure, she will contact your physician to discuss whether you should start a different medication or supplement. Your general practitioner may determine that you still need to take niacin, and your eye doctor may determine that you will require a change in your glaucoma medication to compensate for the affects of niacin.
Considerations
Discuss your eye conditions with your doctor to prevent interactions or complications with any medication. If you need to adjust medications, such as adding niacin, contact your eye doctor to ensure that the new medications do not cause sudden pressure increases or other known complications.
