Dr. Gans; Found your address while serching the net for info on alternative treatments for glaucoma. My wifes family is 100% affected with glaucoma. Her grandfather, grandmother, mother and all 10 of her mother's brothers and sisters have gone blind from glaucoma. Her sister, now 57, is presently experiencing difficulty with treatments, i.e. her first laser treatment held the preasure down for about 6 months and the most recient treatment was unsuccessfull. All established treatments have not worked in their family. My consern is that my wife is now 47 and experiencing increases in preasure with little hope for conventional treatment to help. In all of my searching the only alternative treatment found has been marijuana. I am sure there are others which show promise which are legal. I would appreciate any info you can provide so that we may study the pros and cons before things get worse. Thank you in advance;
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Answered by Richard E. Gans, M. D. (xx102@ofcn.org)
Glaucoma can be a difficult disease to control. As you have found, it is a problem that can run in families. In addition, if family members have lost significant amounts of vision from glaucoma, the risk of "severe" glaucoma and vision loss is greater for your wife, too.
There are many, many treatment modalities for glaucoma. Medications in eyedrop or pill form are usually very effective in controlling the disease. New medications have come available recently, to better assist us in controlling eye pressures. A new medication, apraclonidine (Tradename: Iopidine) received FDA approval two years ago and has rapidly become a common useful tool in glaucoma management. In the next few days to weeks, another new medication, dorzolamide HCl (Tradename: Trusopt) is scheduled to be released. These are two brand new classes of eye medications.
When medications, alone, are not adequate, the laser is a very useful tool in glaucoma treatment. It is common that the effect of laser treatment in glaucoma is not permanent. Depending on how the treatment was performed, it can be repeated a second time when its initial effect "wears off". There are newer laser techniques as well, being used both internally and externally to treat glaucoma.
When medical and laser management fails to control the glaucoma, there is conventional surgery that can be done to lower eye pressures. Although the risks of surgery are greater than less invasive techniques, surgery is very effective in controlling glaucoma.
With regard to marijuana -- yes, THC, the active component of marijuana does lower eye pressure. My understanding, however, is that it does not have as potent effect as currently available "legal" medications. I would not advise any of my patients to use marijuana for it's effect on eye pressure.
My best suggestions would be to find an ophthalmologist who is experienced in the management of glaucoma and treat the problem aggressively. There are very good ways to prevent people from losing vision from glaucoma. There are NO ways to regain the vision once it is lost.
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Copyright, 1995. Richard E. Gans, M.D.
A RICHARD E. GANS, M.D. 11
A A OFCN Primary Sysop, The Eye Clinic 111
AAAAA xx102@ofcn.org 11
A A A C A D E M Y O N E 1111
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