A high intraocular pressure increases your risk for glaucoma, an eye disease that results when high pressure damages the optic nerve. This process affects peripheral vision; it may take many years before you have noticeable vision loss. To prevent damage, your doctor will recommend treatments to reduce eye pressure. If you want to consider herbal remedies, talk with your doctor, and she can tell you the supplements that may have some effect on your condition.
Flaxseed
A product of the flax plant, flaxseed is used to treat a number of health conditions. Much of the benefit from flaxseed stems from omega-3 fatty acids, which may help reduce cholesterol levels and lower the risk for certain heart conditions. In addition to these and other potential benefits, the omega-3 in flaxseed could help reduce eye pressure by improving the outflow of fluid inside the eye. Flaxseed alone may not reduce eye pressure enough, and your doctor may have additional treatment recommendations.
Medical Marijuana
Many people have the opinion that marijuana is an effective treatment to reduce eye pressure. The herb does, in fact, lower pressure, but the effects do not last long enough to offer a beneficial alternative to medications and other treatments. You would need to use a significant amount of medical marijuana and sustain a steady level of it in your system for the herb to have any beneficial effect in preventing glaucoma damage. Talk with your doctor about the potential side effects; your doctor can help you weigh your concerns to determine the best treatment.
Vision
Despite the belief that ginkgo biloba reduces eye pressure, this herbal supplement does not have any known effect in lowering intraocular pressure. However, this herb may have some potential benefits for people with glaucoma, particularly those who have associated vision changes. In a study cited by the University of Maryland Medical Center, researchers found that a daily dose of ginkgo improved vision in glaucoma patients. This study did not have a large number of participants, and researchers must conduct further studies to determine the full potential of ginkgo. If you have vision loss related to glaucoma, you may wish to discuss ginkgo with your doctor.
Considerations
You should not begin any herbal treatment for glaucoma without discussing all of your options with your doctor. Do not stop taking glaucoma medications to try an herb or another remedy. A low eye pressure offers the best protection against vision damage, and stopping treatments may cause your pressure to spike. If you think an herb may offer the best treatment, work with your doctor to arrange a treatment plan. She may have you continue taking prescription medications, checking your pressure before you begin an herbal supplement and again after you have used the supplement for some time. If you have a significant drop in pressure, your doctor can then discuss the option of stopping your prescribed medications.
