Your eyes maintain an eye pressure from the aqueous, the fluid entering and leaving the front chamber of the eye. If these rates do not equal one another, the pressure may increase, and, over time, this could damage your optic nerve, a condition known as glaucoma. High pressure treatment often causes side effects, and trying a herbal or alternative therapy may seem like a good solution. However, some alternatives such as DMSO do not have any known affect on glaucoma.
Vision Effects
A high eye pressure may cause the fluid in the back of the eye to press against the blood vessels, restricting blood flow. This limits the amount of blood that reaches the optic nerve, the structure at the back of your eye that collects visual data to send to your brain. This process does not result in pain or any outward signs, and most people do not know they have glaucoma until they have significant damage to the optic nerve. This damage will slowly affect your side vision, a process that may take many years. Uncontrolled glaucoma can lead to complete blindness.
DMSO
The chemical DMSO, also known as dimethylsulfoxide, does not have any known connection to treating or reducing the risks of glaucoma. Doctors may prescribe DMSO as a therapy bladder cancer, but DMSO does not offer any other proven treatments. People who use this chemical as a supplement claim DMSO may help treat conditions such as cancer, pain and rheumatoid arthritis.
Most commonly, manufacturers use DMSO as an additive to pharmaceutical products, particularly medications that you apply directly to your skin. Some eye drops, such as those used for treating glaucoma, may contain DMSO, but the chemical is an additive only, and not part of the therapeutic properties of the drug.
Treatment
To control intraocular pressure, your doctor will typically prescribe one or more eye drops to provide a good reduction in pressure. These drops notoriously cause surface irritation and redness, and your doctor may recommend that you continue using the drops despite the minor discomfort since most glaucoma medications will cause similar side effects. If, however, you suffer from severe side effects, your doctor may have you stop the drops, and may recommend a surgical procedure to help reduce pressure.
Considerations
Do not use supplements or other alternative therapies for eye pressure unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Medications provide the only proven therapy for reducing eye pressure, and if you use unproven supplements such as DMSO you will risk having continued damage from the high eye pressure.
