Glaucoma is an eye disease that occurs when you have a high eye pressure that damages the optic nerve at the back of your eye. The damage will gradually affect your side vision, and if left uncontrolled, glaucoma may result in blindness. Medications may help control eye pressures, but glaucoma treatments often cause side effects. As a result, you may wish to talk with your doctor about the possible benefits of supplements such as yucca extract in treating your condition.
Yucca
Components of the yucca plant may offer relief from inflammation and pain related to arthritis, and may also offer some benefits to the liver and kidney, reports New Mexico State University. Despite these potential health benefits, yucca does not have any known effect in treating or preventing glaucoma.
Testing
To avoid medications or invasive procedures to reduce your eye pressure, you can talk with your doctor about trying an herbal remedy. Most herbal remedies, such as yucca extract, will not cause a reduction in eye pressure. If you talk to your doctor about your concerns and your need to try alternative treatments, she will evaluate any possible adverse effects. If he finds that trying yucca will not cause harmful interactions with any medication or health condition you have, he may work with you in trying yucca extract. Your doctor will take a baseline eye pressure before starting yucca, and once you've been using the supplement for a period of time, she will have you return for a pressure test. A similar reading or a drop in pressure will tell you the effectiveness of yucca extract in helping your condition.
Warning
Glaucoma medications may cause surface irritation and other side effects, but for many people, the drops offer the only beneficial method of reducing eye pressure and preventing glaucoma-related vision loss. You should not stop taking your glaucoma medication unless directed by your doctor. If you have discomfort, redness or other side effects, you should contact your doctor. He will inform you of any other medications or alternative treatments for your condition. In some cases, however, she may recommend that you continue using the drop to keep your pressures low.
Considerations
Do not stop your glaucoma medications to try yucca extract or any other herbal supplement unless you do so under your doctor's supervision. If your doctor agrees with your decision to try an herbal supplement, he will inform you of the potential risks and the best way to use the herb.
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