Aqueous humor fills the front of your eye, and if your eye produces too much aqueous or if it does not drain fast enough, this could increase your eye pressure and damage your eye. This condition, known as glaucoma, can lead to permanent vision loss. Glaucoma treatments often result in side effects, and many people turn to natural supplements. However, supplements such as quercetin do not have any known benefit in treating or preventing the disease.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a plant pigment that has antioxidant properties and other potential health benefits. Many foods, including apples, oranges, onions, grapes and cherries contain this nutrient. Quercetin also is available in oral supplements. Your doctor may recommend these supplements for allergies, high cholesterol and other conditions.
Studies
In 2001, researchers evaluated the role of a variety of nutrients and antioxidants, including quercetin, in protecting your eyes from cataracts and glaucoma. Though the study showed quercetin had some protective effects in preventing cataracts, the glaucoma study did not conclude that quercetin had any effect. The Department of Ophthalmology at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine released a study in 2004 which evaluated the effects of certain compounds on rats with glaucoma. Researchers did not focus on quercetin, in particular, but one of the compounds contained quercetin. The study concluded that quercetin reversed the beneficial effects of some of the other compounds used in the study.
Treatment
Quercetin does not provide any known benefit for reducing eye pressure or damage from glaucoma. However, prescription medications, such as eye drops, typically provide a significant drop in intraocular pressure. Be aware that these eye drops may cause surface irritation and discomfort. If your symptoms worsen and other drops cause severe discomfort as well, your doctor may recommend glaucoma surgery to help reduce your eye pressure.
Considerations
Do not take a supplement such as quercetin for any condition without first consulting your doctor. Quercetin can interact with blood thinners or chemotherapy drugs. Glaucoma does not typically cause outward symptoms, but this does not mean you should stop your treatments to try unproved supplements. Stopping your medications can cause an increase in eye pressure, resulting in further damage to your eye and possibly vision loss.
References
- National Eye Institute; Facts About Glaucoma; September 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Quercetin; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; May 2009
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; Natural Therapies for Ocular Disorders, Part Two: Cataracts and Glaucoma; K. A. Head; April 2001
- "Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science"; Retinal Ganglion Cell Protection With Geranylgeranylacetone, A Heat Shock Protein Inducer, In a Rat Glaucoma Model; Y. Ishii, et al.; May 2003
