Glaucoma Supplements

Over the years the doctors at Grand Ridge Eye Clinic have been asked what supplements can be helpful in combating Glaucoma. What we have discovered is that there is not a catch all, easy answer to that question. You are an individual and any supplements regarding your health must be tailored to your specific needs and tolerances. To that end, we want to come along side of you and your primary care physician and help you to make the choice that best suits your lifestyle and health goals. The following is education and recommendations based upon current research. Grand Ridge Eye Clinic does not endorse any particular supplement. The following material is for information purposes so that you can make informed decisions.

The source material is linked

Definition of Terms

Glaucoma – A group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve sends visual information from your eye to your brain and is vital for good vision. Damage to the optic nerve is often related to high pressure in your eye. But glaucoma can happen even with normal eye pressure.

IOP – Intraocular pressure is the pressure, or force, inside of your eyes. Specifically, it’s a measurement of the fluid pressure in your aqueous humor.

Aqueous Humor – Aqueous humor is the clear liquid inside the front part of the eye. It nourishes the eye and keeps it inflated.

Optic Nerve – A nerve at the back of your eye that connects to your brain. The optic nerve sends light signals to your brain so you can see.

Trabecular Meshwork – A spongy tissue located near the cornea that is part of the drainage system of the eye.

Drainage Angle – The point in the eye where the colored part of the eye (iris) and the white covering of the eye (sclera) meet. This is where the aqueous humor flows out of the eye.

Vitamins – Naturally occurring nutrients that our bodies are unable to synthesize on their own but are necessary for the healthy functioning of our body. They are best found in the foods we eat but can also be taken in a pill, tablet, liquid, powder or capsule form. Vitamins should not be taken in excess. This is not a matter of, “If a little is good, a lot must be better!” There are recommended dosages that your body functions best with so that you do not have detrimental effects from taking vitamins.

Supplement – While all vitamins (organic in nature) can also be taken as supplements, not all supplements are vitamins. Supplements are often times comprised of multiple ingredients (occasionally to include herbs and/or multiple vitamins, hence the term multivitamin), are designed to complement our diet, even if we are already getting sufficient number of vitamins from the foods we eat. Supplements are meant to be added to, no replace, the benefits we get from the food we consume.

Link to The National Eye Institute's Explanation of Glaucoma Types​​​​​​​

9 Important Bio cellular Mechanisms of Eye Aging that Contribute to Glaucoma

1. Oxidative Stress

2. Chronic Inflammation

3. Neuronal Transmission Failure

4. Impaired Glucose Metabolism

5. Mitochondrial Dysfunction

6. Vascular Dysregulation

7. High Homocysteine Levels

8. Stress-related Cellular Damage

9. Macular Pigment Deficiency

qd = once daily

bid = 2 times per day

tid = 3 times per day

qid = 4 times per day

Supplements that have been shown to help with glaucoma (next to each supplement is the # of the bio cellular mechanism that it addresses)

  • Dosage Recommended and Warnings

  • Mechanism of Action

  • Natural sources of the supplement

Avoid simulating foods (sugar and refined foods, alcohol, drugs, smoking, coffee, and salt.

Patients who ate 3 or more servings of fruit such as peaches or oranges, or fruit juices, per day were 79 percent less likely to have POAG. In addition, those who ate more than one serving of collard greens or kale, which are nitrate-rich, leafy green vegetables, per week decreased their odds of having POAG by 57 percent. The Nurses Health Study and Health Professionals Follow up Study found that a greater inteake of nitrate-rich foods and leafy green vegetables decreased the risk of POAG by 20-30%.

Blood pressure

  1. Keep diastolic BP near 80 mmHg (low diastolic=increased risk)

  2. Reduce systolic BP to under 130

  3. High myopia 7.3x increased risk compared to emmatropic eye

  4. Consider: Genetic home test, 23 & Me, for glaucoma risk.

https://nutritionguide.pcrm.org/nutritionguide/view/Nutrition_Guide_for_Clinicians/1342079/all/Glaucoma


Sources:

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(b) Wm Bartlett MD, June 2009 lecture

(c) University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary

(d) British Journal of Ophthalmology, Researchers from UCLI

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(O) Azumi I, Kosaki H, Nakatani H. Effects of mecobalamin (Methycobal) on the visual field of chronic glaucoma–a multicenter open study. Folia Ophthalmol Jpn 1983;34:873-878

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(Y) Matsunaga N, et al. Bilberry and its main constituents have neuroprotective effects against retinal neuronal damage in vitro and in vivo. Mol Nut Food Res 2009;53:7:869-77.

(Z) Caprioli J and Sears M. Forskolin lowers intraocular pressure in rabbits, monkeys, and man. Lancet 1983;1:958-960.

(a) Caprioli J, et al. Forskolin lowers intraocular pressure by reducing aqueous inflow. Inves Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1984;25:268-277.

(b) Coleman AL, Stone KL, Kodjebacheva G, et al. Glaucoma risk and the consumption of fruits and vegetables among older women in the study of osteoporotic fractures. Am J Ophthalmol 2008;145:6:1081-1089.

(c) Giaconi JA, et al. The association of consumption of fruits/vegetables with decreased risk of glaucoma among older African-American women in the study of osteoporotic fractures. Amer J Ophthal 2012;154:4:635-644.

(d) Kang JH, et al. Association of dietary nitrate intake with primary open-angle glaucoma, a prospective analysis from the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. JAMA Ophthalmology 2016;13:3:294-303.

(e) https://www.helio.com/news/optometry/20230109/poag-risk-greater-with-higher-systolic-pulse-pressures

(f) Can a healthy diet affect open-angle glaucoma? Review of presbyopia and the Aging Eye reviewofpresbyopia.com/can-a-healthy-diet-affect-open-angle-glaucoma/ utm_sources;WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Review%20of%20Presbyopia%20and%20the%20Aging%20Eye&utm_campaign=ROP_FeatureFocus_081923

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(j) Veach J. Functional dichotomy: glutathione and vitamin E in homeostasis relevant to primary open-angle glaucoma. Br J Nutr 2004; 91:809-829.

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(n) Mazaffarieh M, Grieshaber MC, Orgul S et al. The potential value of natural antioxidant treatment in glaucoma. Surv Ophthalmol 2008; 53:479-505.

(o) Wax MB, Tezel G. Immunoregulation of retinal ganglion cell fate in glaucoma. Exp Eye Res 2009; 88: 825-830.

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(q) Tanito M, Kaidzu S, Takai Y et al. Association between systemic oxidative stress and visual field damage in open-angle glaucoma. Sci Rep 2016; 6: 25792.

(r) Abu-Amero KK, Kondkar AA, Mousa A et al. Decreased total antioxidants in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Curr Eye Res 2013; 38: 959-964.

(s) Yoo TK, Oh E, Hong S. Is vitamin D status associated with open-angle glaucoma? A cross-sectional study from South Korea. Public Health Nutr 2014; 17: 833-843.

(t) Yuki K, Murat D, Kimura I et al. Reduced serum vitamin C and increased uric acid levels in normal-tension glaucoma. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2010; 248: 243-248.

(u) Jabbehdari S, Chen JL, Vajaranant TS. Effect of dietary modification and antioxidant supplementation on intraocular pressure and open-angle glaucoma. European Journal of

Opthalmology 2021; Vol. 31(4) 1588-1605.

(v) Schnebelen C, Pasquis B, Salinas-Navarro M, et al. A dietary combination of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids is more efficient than single supplementations in the prevention of retinal damage induced by elevation of intraocular pressure in rats. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2009; 247: 1191-1203.

(w) Schnebelen C, Fourgeux C, Pasquis B et al. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce retinal stress induced by an elevation of intraocular pressure in rats. Nutr Res 2011; 31: 286-295.

(x) Nguyen CT, Bui BV, Sinclair AJ et al. Dietary omega-3 fatty acids decrease intraocular pressure with age by increasing outflow. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2007; 48: 756-762.

(y) Nguyen CT, Vingrys AJ, and Bui BV. Dietary omega-3 deficiency and IOP insult are additive risk factors for ganglion cell dysfunction. J Glaucoma 2013; 22: 269-277.

(z) Downie LE, Vingrys AJ. Oral omega-3 supplementation lowers intraocular pressure in normotensive adults. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2018 May 1;7(3):1.

(A) Vergroesen JE, de Crom TOE, van Duijin CM et al. MIND diet lowers risk of open-angle glaucoma: the Rotterdam study. Eur J Nutr. 2023 Feb;62(1):477-487.

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(E) Lee J, Sohn SW, Kee C. Effect of ginkgo biloba extract on visual field progression in normal tension glaucoma. J Glaucoma 2013; 22: 780-784.

(F) Quaranta L, Bettelli S, Uva MG et al. Effect of ginkgo biloba extract on preexisting visual field damage in normal tension glaucoma. Ophthalmology 2003; 110:359-362.

(G) Fernandez-Albarral J. Saffron benefits for eye diseases. Acta Ophthalmologica 20 December 2022. Volume 10, issue S275.

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​​​​​​​Apr;40(4):158-68.

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