Glaucoma - Supplements

Look out for the health of your eyes—steer clear of this condition caused by pressure within the eyeball. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

Give C a try for healthier eyes
Reduce intraocular pressure by taking at least 2 grams a day of vitamin C
Go for the ginkgo
To improve vision in cases of normal tension glaucoma, take 120 mg a day of a standardized extract of the herb Ginkgo biloba
See an expert
Visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist for regular eye tests that can detect the early signs of glaucoma

Also indexed as:

glaucoma

About this treatment

What Are "Star" Ratings?

a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Ginkgo	120 mg daily of a standardized herbal extract	In cases of normal tension glaucoma; ginkgo may help improve vision.
Ginkgo 120 mg daily of a standardized herbal extract In a double-blind study, supplementation with a standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba in the amount of 40 mg three times a day for four weeks partially reversed visual field damage in people with one type of glaucoma (normal tension glaucoma).³ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin C	At least 2 grams daily	Supplementing with vitamin C may help reduce intraocular pressure.
Vitamin C At least 2 grams daily Several studies have shown that supplementing with vitamin C can significantly reduce elevated intraocular pressure in individuals with glaucoma.⁴ These studies used at least 2 grams per day of vitamin C; much larger amounts were sometimes given. Higher quantities of vitamin C appeared to be more effective than smaller amounts. Doctors often suggest that people with glaucoma take vitamin C to “bowel tolerance.”⁵ The bowel-tolerance level is determined by progressively increasing vitamin C intake until loose stools or abdominal pain occurs, and then reducing the amount slightly, to a level that does not cause these symptoms. The bowel tolerance level varies considerably from person to person, usually ranging from about 5 to 20 or more grams per day. Vitamin C does not cure glaucoma and must be used continually to maintain a reduction in intraocular pressure. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Coleus	Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner	Studies have shown that intraocular pressure may be lowered by directly applying a sterile fluid extract of forskolin, a constituent of the Ayurvedic herb Coleus forskohlii.
Coleus Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner Studies in healthy humans, including at least one double-blind trial, have repeatedly shown that intraocular pressure is lowered by direct application of forskolin, a constituent of the Ayurvedic herb Coleus forskohlii.⁶ ^{, 7} Until ophthalmic preparations of coleus or forskolin are available, people with glaucoma should consult with a skilled healthcare practitioner to obtain a sterile fluid extract for use in the eyes. Direct application of the whole herb to the eyes has not been studied and is not advised. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Alpha Lipoic Acid	Refer to label instructions	Alpha lipoic acid may improve visual function in people with some types of glaucoma.
Alpha Lipoic Acid Alpha lipoic acid (150 mg per day for one month) improves visual function in people with some types of glaucoma.⁸ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Dan Shen	Refer to label instructions	Dan shen, a traditional Chinese herb, was reported to improve vision in people with glaucoma when given by muscular injection
Dan Shen Dan shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), a traditional Chinese herb, used either alone or combined with other Chinese herbs for 30 days was reported to improve vision in people with glaucoma.⁹ However, the herb was administered by muscular injection, a preparation that is not readily available in North America or Great Britain. It is not known whether oral use of the herb would have the same effect.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Fish Oil	Refer to label instructions	Inuit people, who eat large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, appear to have a much lower incidence of glaucoma than do Caucasians. One study found that cod liver oil (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids) reduced intraocular pressure in animals.
Fish Oil Surveys have shown that Inuit people, who consume large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, have a much lower incidence of some types of glaucoma than do Caucasians. Although there have been no studies on the use of omega-3 fatty acids to treat glaucoma, one study found that cod liver oil (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids) reduced intraocular pressure in animals.¹⁰ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Magnesium	Refer to label instructions	In one study, supplementing with magnesium improved vision in people with glaucoma, apparently by enhancing blood flow to the eyes.
Magnesium Magnesium can dilate blood vessels. One study looked at whether magnesium might improve vision in people with glaucoma by enhancing blood flow to the eyes. In that trial, participants were given 245 mg of magnesium per day. Improvement in vision was noted after four weeks, but the change did not reach statistical significance.¹¹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Melatonin	Refer to label instructions	Supplementing with melatonin lowered intraocular pressure of healthy people in one study.
Melatonin Supplementing with 0.5 mg of melatonin lowered intraocular pressure of healthy people,¹² but there have been no studies on the effects of melatonin in people with glaucoma. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Rutin	Refer to label instructions	The flavonoid rutin may increase the effectiveness of conventional medication in people with glaucoma.
Rutin Many years ago, the flavonoid rutin was reported to increase the effectiveness of conventional medication in people with glaucoma.¹³ The amount used—20 mg three times per day—was quite moderate. In that study, 17 of 26 eyes with glaucoma showed clear improvement. Modern research on the effects of rutin or other flavonoids in people with glaucoma is lacking.

References

Last Review: 05-11-2011

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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