There may be a more affordable and effective treatment than traditional methods for glaucoma, an eye condition that can lead to blindness if not treated properly. Cannabis has long been used as an alternative treatment to glaucoma. In fact, one of the first uses of medical marijuana was for combatting this potentially blinding disease.
What are the benefits of medical marijuana? Glaucoma patients suffer from increase in Intraocular pressure (IOP) which results in many complications. Marijuana helps reduce IOP. The usage of cannabis – particularly THC – diminishes the pressure on the optic nerve by almost 30 percent which is as effective as any prescribed conventional medication. Medical marijuana is considered to be a miracle or a too-good-to-be-true treatment for glaucoma sufferers since it minimizes intense eye pain, nausea, headaches, seeing rings around lights and blurred vision. The rarest and most dangerous kind of glaucoma is closed angle glaucoma, which is accompanied by acute symptoms. This condition needs prompt and consistent care as it may lead to complete blindness. Cannabis, known for its relaxing and analgesic effect, can provide relief to patients suffering from closed-angle glaucoma’s excruciating symptoms.
How should glaucoma patients consume medical marijuana? In order to avoid the harmful effects of smoking, it is recommended that THC is administered orally, under the tongue. Nevertheless, this might lead to increased fatigue. The most convenient way to use cannabis to treat medical conditions like glaucoma is by applying drops that deliver THC straight into the eye. This is believed to reduce side effects and deliver the most effective results. Nonetheless, while waiting to develop an effective eye drop that would be strong enough to yield the desired result, patients would have to smoke or ingest cannabis. Cannabis oil and vaporization are also considered to be alternative ways that would help patients benefit from medical marijuana’s therapeutic effects.
How long would the cannabinoid’s effect last? Since the effect is not long-lasting, people who suffer from glaucoma need to consume it multiple times a day, which might cause the patient to have cannabis use disorder. However, this drawback is relatively null compared to the symptoms of late-stage glaucoma.Conclusion: There isn’t a foolproof medication that would cure glaucoma, but patients who are suffering from the negative side effects of conventional treatment methods can resort to medical cannabis in order to control high intraocular pressure and relieve certain symptoms accompanying this medical condition.
