Glaucoma, which is defined by the loss of retinal ganglion cells, is the most prevalent cause of permanent blindness in the world. There are other mechanisms at work as well, such as changes in the blood supply to the optic nerve, oxidative stress, inflammation, and excitotoxicity.

Glaucoma is often brought on by an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP, >21 mmHg), which happens when the flow of intraocular fluid and aqueous humor is blocked. The optic nerve and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are gradually destroyed by increased IOP, resulting in visual field constriction that first affects the periphery and then the central vision fields. Glaucoma sufferers need lifetime care and monitoring, and the condition significantly lowers their quality of life in terms of anxiety, psychological health, everyday activities, driving, and trust in medical professionals. Age, having a family history of glaucoma, being African American, having a smaller central corneal thickness, pseudoexfoliation, pigment dispersion, and myopia are the key risk factors for glaucoma prevalence. In addition, a link was found between diabetes, hypertension, triglyceride levels, and glaucoma.

Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) can result in axonal injury and disruption of axonal transport of the optic nerve. The path to comprehending a multifaceted approach to therapy is opened by a deeper comprehension of each of these elements that contribute to the onset or progression of glaucoma.

In the US, individuals have become more interested in and more frequently employ alternative therapies for a variety of ailments, including glaucoma. According to a 2012 survey, over 1 in 9 glaucoma sufferers had utilized alternative therapies in some capacity.

Using natural foods and supplements with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics may be a different strategy for treating glaucoma. The current review summarizes recent preclinical and clinical research on various natural compounds that have been found to have neuroprotective characteristics for retinal ganglion cells, suggesting potential glaucoma therapy benefits.

Baicalein, forskolin, marijuana, ginsenoside, resveratrol, and hesperidin can all lower intraocular pressure. As alternative, retinal ganglion cells have shown neuroprotective effects from:

• Ginkgo biloba
• Lycium barbarum
• Diospyros kaki
• Tripterygium wilfordii
• Saffron
• Curcumin
• Caffeine
• Anthocyanin
• coenzyme Q10
• vitamins B3 and D 

via a variety of mechanisms, particularly antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Future research will be needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of natural items as an alternate treatment for glaucoma.

Herbal medicine use is the most popular type of alternative medicine, followed by dietary changes and vitamin/mineral supplements. The study on the majority of alternative therapies is either weak or unclear to demonstrate a clear impact on Glaucoma results, despite the fact that numerous alternative treatments have been presented. Hopefully, this review will clarify this subject and help doctors respond to patients’ questions and concerns.

Glaucoma natural treatment

Despite the fact that there is no known cure for glaucoma, there are certain natural health and wellness alternatives that may help your eyes adapt to medical treatment as effective as possible. Natural treatments for glaucoma may be a useful addition to medical care but are not sufficient to fully address the illness or provide a cure. 

Beware of internet glaucoma “quick cures” and purported miracle treatments. Before starting a new regimen that could have an impact on your condition or health or interact with your present therapy, always consult with your eye care professional. 

There are several methods to use drug-free, natural “remedies” to support your glaucoma therapy, from adding certain foods and nutrients to your diet to quitting bad behaviors.

Eat a balanced diet to combat glaucoma 

It has been demonstrated that a healthy diet may influence eye health and may even halt the onset of diseases like glaucoma. 

Recent research suggests that specific vitamins and minerals may affect IOP as well as the occurrence and development of glaucoma. Fruits and vegetables that are richer in carotenoids and vitamins A and C in particular seem to be beneficial. 

For this reason, leafy greens like spinach, collard greens, kale, and Brussels sprouts are some of the most crucial vegetables to consume in your diet. 

Additionally, antioxidants could aid in halting future optic nerve injury. Foods like cranberries,  flax seeds, pomegranates, acai berries, and drinks like black and green tea all contain antioxidants. 

You should also consume other items, such as peaches, carrots, beets, green beans, and radishes, as part of your daily fruit and vegetable consumption. However, experts advise avoiding consuming excessive amounts of coffee and other caffeinated drinks since caffeine can raise ocular pressure.

Your glaucoma may be easier to treat with a certain diet. Saturated and trans fatty acid-rich foods can cause high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and other health issues that can aggravate glaucoma and raise IOP. Maintain a healthy diet consisting of lean meats, colorful fruits and vegetables, high-nutrient leafy greens, and other such foods. This can improve your general health and lessen eye diseases and troubles.

Foods enriched in zinc, vitamins A, E, C, and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants can be very good for eye health. Lean foods like fish, chicken, turkey, and pig should be substituted for red meat and beef. Avoid eating fried and baked products. Avoid simple carbohydrates like pasta, cereal, potatoes, rice, and bread in favor of complex carbohydrates like those found in vegetables and legumes. A healthy lifestyle choice that might support your eye health is getting all the vitamins and minerals you need from meals. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), eating foods that are deemed good for your eyes will help you control your glaucoma more effectively than taking vitamins.

Regular exercise will support a healthy IOP. 

You may keep your IOP levels in a healthy range by exercising moderately. This is due to the fact that exercise enhances blood flow to your eyes and the rest of your body. Contrarily, intense activity can raise IOP, so avoid going too far. 

Certain yoga postures can also lead to a higher IOP, which is bad for those with glaucoma. Yoga positions including headstands, protracted downward-facing dogs, legs up the wall, plows, and standing forward bends should be avoided if you have glaucoma and practice yoga.

Vitamin and Herbal Supplements

Natural glaucoma treatment can be aided by vitamin and herbal supplements, but they cannot cure the condition entirely. Numerous vitamins and supplements are sold for the management of glaucoma. It is challenging to determine precisely which combination of these will be most helpful because glaucoma is a set of disorders that might vary from person to person. Usually, in order for a certain vitamin to be effective, you would need to consume a lot of it. Numerous health issues, such as diarrhea and upset stomach, might result from this. It may appear that using herbal remedies to treat vascular diseases, such as ginkgo biloba, would also aid with glaucoma. However, rather than lowering it, it might actually increase the pressure in your eyes. Baicalein is another natural medicine that has potential. Although it has been shown to lower ocular pressure in mice, it is still unclear how effective this will transfer to humans. Although it’s unlikely that vitamin supplements and herbal remedies may hurt you, they shouldn’t be taken instead of glaucoma treatments or therapies that your doctor has given, AAO.

Natural glaucoma supplements for glaucoma natural treatment

Natural and over-the-counter supplements can be used to make up for vitamin or mineral deficiencies, such as: 

• Zinc 
• Calcium 
• Magnesium 
• A, B-complex, C, and E vitamins 

All of them are crucial for people with glaucoma. Taking a daily multivitamin might be beneficial if you believe that your nutrient intake is insufficient. 

But it’s crucial to keep in mind that there is no clinical evidence to support the prevention or treatment of glaucoma by vitamin supplements. Even if you are thinking about using natural remedies to cure your glaucoma, you should always see your doctor first. 

Herbs for treating glaucoma

It’s thought that certain plants can help with glaucoma treatments. Ginkgo, bilberry, and forskolin in particular could be advantageous. These herbal treatments for glaucoma have the following advantages: 

Ginkgo (ginkgo biloba)

This herb has been demonstrated in several experimental models to enhance ocular blood flow. 

Bilberry (vaccinium myrtillus)

Bilberry is well-known for being a powerful antioxidant. One research found that bilberry reduced retinal ganglion cell damage in mice, but no human studies have found a similar effect. 

Forskolin (coleus forskohlii)

By slowing the flow of aqueous fluid into the eye, this plant may reduce IOP when given topically. 

Medical marijuana (cannabis)

According to certain research, marijuana usage on a regular basis, which might result in potentially harmful side effects, may temporarily decrease IOP. 

Although these herbs have shown promise in certain trials, it is crucial to remember that they are not glaucoma medications that have been clinically tested. Before taking any herbal treatments for glaucoma, speak with your doctor first. Some plants may even have serious side effects or problems with other prescriptions. And never use herbal therapies in place of those that a doctor has prescribed or advised.

Stress Management

For the management of glaucoma, relaxing methods like meditation help lower ocular pressure. Stress has a number of harmful impacts on the body, including rising blood pressure and ocular pressure. This may aggravate glaucoma. Your ocular pressure and glaucoma can both be controlled with the aid of relaxation techniques and stress-reduction strategies. IOP has been observed to decrease with meditation. Meditation and relaxation exercises are supplementary and alternative natural health methods that can be beneficial for a range of illnesses. To be complementary is to be “in addition to.” These techniques ought to be used with more conventional medical therapies as well.

Marijuana for Glaucoma Natural Treatment

Marijuana as an alternate glaucoma therapy. Although marijuana smoking does lessen ocular pressure, it also lowers blood pressure. Your optic nerve may become less perfused as a result, which might harm it. While marijuana may reduce pressure, it may speed up glaucoma-related visual loss. Glaucoma treatment involves controlling eye pressure seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Due to their additional effects on the mind and body, cannabis and cannabis-derived products are therefore not feasible options. In order to cure glaucoma, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) advises against utilizing marijuana or cannabis-derived chemicals like CBD. Most states have legalized marijuana, at least for medical use; it is still a federally prohibited drug. Federal supervision makes it difficult to do proper study on its medicinal applications and effectiveness, despite the fact that it may have some medical advantages. Its utility in treating glaucoma is not currently supported by any recognized scientific studies.

Changing your sleeping posture to Help Glaucoma

You may lessen glaucoma and lower eye pressure by sleeping with your head up. An increase in ocular pressure brought on by sleeping flat on your back might lead to glaucoma. Your IOP can really be reduced by as much as 20% by using two or three pillows and sleeping with your head elevated at night. This is a simple and affordable method for managing your glaucoma at home organically. Keep in mind that this approach is an additional therapy. It won’t assist you for the remainder of the day, but it will keep your IOP low at night. To treat your glaucoma, medical intervention will still be required.

Conclusion

Glaucoma vision loss cannot be restored, hence it is essential that the condition be identified early and treated effectively. Natural glaucoma “remedies” should not be used as a replacement for glaucoma therapy recommended by your eye doctor. However, dietary supplements and healthy lifestyle modifications may be helpful to complement conventional glaucoma therapies. 

Before considering using any natural glaucoma treatments, be careful to discuss them with your eye doctor. Some might really negatively interact with your meds. 

Don’t delay making an appointment for routine checks with an eye doctor nearby. Regular eye exams are important for everyone, but they are especially important for those diagnosed with glaucoma or more likely to develop it. 

FAQ’s for glaucoma natural treatment

Is there a natural way to reverse glaucoma? 

The response to this query is “no” Once glaucoma is identified, there is presently no treatment that can reverse the disease and no means to erase the damage that has already been done in terms of visual loss. 

Which foods help treat glaucoma? 

Fruits and vegetables include nitrates, antioxidants, and other nutrients that may lower the incidence of glaucoma. It is preferable to consume a variety of fruits and vegetables, particularly those that are high in nitrates, carotenes, and vitamins A and C. Green leafy vegetables, carrots, cruciferous vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, and peaches are some of them. 

What beverage is ideal for glaucoma? 

According to research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, persons who drank at least one cup of hot tea every day had a 74% reduced chance of developing glaucoma than those who did not. Additionally recommended by the organization for their health properties are chocolate, bananas, avocados, pumpkin seeds, and black beans.