Can Medical Marijuana Help To Treat Glaucoma?

Today, medical marijuana is considered as a treatment for many diseases, including glaucoma. Nowadays, the possession of medical marijuana has been legalized in states like Washington and Colorado. So now, someone can be easier to self-medicate glaucoma without consulting the expert (ophthalmologist) before. The question is, can medical marijuana help to treat glaucoma? Does it really work?

glaucoma procces

Understanding Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease. The optic nerves become continuously destroyed on glaucoma. It is reducing side vision. Sometimes, this condition leads to blindness. What is the cause of glaucoma? One cause of optic nerve failure in glaucoma is the intraocular pressure (pressure within the eye or “IOP”). It is higher than normal pressure of common people.

So presently, the only method to control glaucoma and also avoid vision loss is to lower the IOP levels. The ophthalmologist usually treats glaucoma with medication, such as prescription eye drops, or surgery, depending on the glaucoma type and how severe it is.

How Does Medical Marijuana Help to Treat Glaucoma?

difference between normal eye and glaucoma

The idea that marijuana can be useful in treating glaucoma dates to the 1970s. The studies have been conducted. It showed that smoking marijuana lowered the IOP of people with glaucoma. As a result of this study, additional research was held examining if marijuana or its active ingredient (a compound called as THC) could be used to decrease IOP level. This research was supported by the National Eye Institute, a division of the federal National Institutes of Health.

The study found that when marijuana is smoked or when a form of its active ingredient is taken by injection or as a pill, it does lower IOP. However, it only decreases IOP for a short period — about three until four hours.

This short period time is a major weakness for the use of medical marijuana as a glaucoma medication. The problem is glaucoma needs to be treated 24 hours a day. So, it would need to smoke or inject medical marijuana six to eight times a day to obtain the benefit of a consistently lowered IOP. Another problem is marijuana can cause the mood-altering effect. Smoking too much daily would leave your body and mental ability impaired to function. You are too weaken to drive or operate the equipment.

However, the impairing effect of marijuana on the body is not the only side effect from this drug. Marijuana cigarettes contain hundreds of compounds that destroy the lungs. Besides that, the research has indicated that frequent and regular using marijuana, especially in high doses, can cause problems with concentration and short-term memory.

Furthermore, scientists study more about glaucoma. They found that IOP is not the only factor that destroys the optic nerve. There is evidence that the blood flow may also cause glaucoma. The decreased flow of the blood to the optic nerve will increase the damage of the nerve itself. 

Unfortunately, medical marijuana not only lowers the IOP but also reduce the blood pressure throughout the human body. Consuming it will decrease the blood flow to the optic nerve eventually. Finally, it is effectively canceling out the benefit of a lowered IOP.

The scientists are still studying if the active compounds in marijuana may yet offer a glaucoma medication. However, it needs more research and many years to become reality. But, we must continue to hope.

So, It is not recommended for using medical marijuana to treat glaucoma although it may temporarily decrease the IOP. Prescription medication and surgical treatments are currently the best ways. It has been tested and proven as an effective medication for the condition. The American Academy of Ophthalmology declared that it did not be recommended for using marijuana or other cannabis products as glaucoma medication on June 21, 2014. Contact your ophthalmologist to find the glaucoma treatment option that is best for you.

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