Eye Didn't Know!

Alternative Therapies for Glaucoma?

Did you know? It is said that 50% of patients with glaucoma use "alternative" therapies, that is, therapies other than those prescribed by their physician. The rate may be higher in Asian populations. The question is, do they work??? A prominent glaucoma specialist from San Francisco, John Hetherington, M.D., recently reviewed the literature on the subject. He reached the following conclusions:

Vitamins A, B1, B12, C, and E, as well as antioxidant supplements, had no meaningful effect on intraocular pressure or glaucoma progression.

Marijuana decreases eye pressure, but its effects are very short–lived with significant side–effects. Topical application of its components (there are over 400!) has not yet shown to be effective, but is being studied.

Ginkgo biloba increases ocular blood flow and thus may protect the optic nerve. Dr. Robert Ritch is a specialist who has advocated gingko use for glaucoma for many years. Gingko may cause side effects such as bleeding, especially when used with aspirin, so should be used with caution or after consultation with a primary care physician.

There is no evidence that bilberry is beneficial for glaucoma or optic nerve health.

Drinking excess water can raise eye pressure temporarily.

Alcohol can decrease eye pressure temporarily, but obvious toxicity can result with excess!

Meditation produces insignificant reduction in eye pressure.

Acupuncture has not be shown to affect eye pressure.

Exercise has a significant eye pressure lowering effect over time.

In summary, exercise and possibly gingko are the only alternative therapies which currently may be effective in glaucoma. So save your money and keep walking!

Did you also know? Yoga exercises which feature inversion for long periods of time should definitely be avoided in glaucoma, as they can increase eye pressure greatly!

(photo by Joseph Renger, wikimedia commons)

Happy Birthday, Georgia O'Keeffe

Did you know? American artist Georgia O'Keeffe (1887–1986) lived to age 99, and was active artistically until she died. At age 77, however, she was diagnosed with severe macular degeneration in each eye. Shortly thereafter, she had a vascular occlusion ot the retina in one eye, which damaged her vision even further. In her 80s she tried using an assistant to paint, but this was not successful! With her vision failing, she then turned to pottery.

Did you also know? If you visit Santa Fe, New Mexico, be sure to visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. And even if you are not a fan of her art, I highly recommend the O'Keeffe Cafe next door!

photo of O'Keeffe by Steiglitz, Wikimedia Commons

Happy Birthday, Claude Monet

Did you know? Claude Monet (1840-1926) was the quintessential impressionist. His 1873 painting, Impression: Sunrise, gave the movement its name.

At age 68 Monet noticed that his vision was deteriorating, and his ability to handle colors was worsening. He destroyed some of his later works because of this. At age 72 he received a diagnosis of cataracts. He sought the opinion of no fewer than six Paris ophthalmologists. He was deathly afraid of cataract surgery.

His paintings in these later years lost more and more detail--not because his art was becoming abstract, but because he couldn't see!

At age 82 he could only detect light in his right eye, and could barely see the top of the eye chart in his left eye. At age 83 he consented to cataract surgery in his right eye. He did not have surgery in his left eye. This made vision difficult. There were no lens implants then, so he needed thick glasses for his operated eye to see, but the two eyes could not work together.

At age 86 he died of lung cancer and emphysema.

Did you also know? A cataract occurs as the natural lens within the eye becomes cloudy, usually due to age. Fortunately cataract surgery today is remarkably successful, and cataracts as advanced as Monet's are rarely seen in this country.

Doxycycline eyedrops?

Did you know? For many years, ophthalmologists have prescribed doxycycline tablets for patients with rosacea, blepharitis, and dry irritated eyes. In these conditions, the pills do not act as antibiotics, but rather they are thought to decrease inflammation in the oil glands which help lubricate the eyes, and alter the oil so that it is more lubricating and less irritating. This therapy works well, but is limited by frequent side-effects from the oral medication, as well as the length of time (weeks or months) before relief is noticed.

A company, Alacrity Biosciences, has developed a doxycycline eyedrop which promises relief from dry eye and blepharitis without the side effects of oral doxycycline. In a double-masked two-month study of 160 subjects, patients receiving the eyedrop had less burning, stinging, and grittiness than those receiving the placebo. They also fared better when placed in a "controlled adverse (dry and windy) environment."

Did you also know? The same company has a novel treatment for glaucoma in its development pipeline.

Inexpensive post-Lasik glasses

Did you know? A company called Spare Specs is selling inexpensive, pre-fabricated glasses designed to fine tune the vision after monovision Lasik or cataract surgery, or contact lens wear. Many patients older than 40 years old elect to have monovision correction. This means that their contact lenses or surgery gives them one eye which is focused for distance and one eye focused at near. This enables spectacle-free vision for most daily activities. For those who desire even crisper vision for, say, driving, these glasses will correct the near-sighted eye for distance, giving crisper binocular vision. Similar prescriptions are available to correct the distance eye for reading.

I have not personally prescribed these lenses yet, but they seem like a promising, low-cost solution to improve the vision for monovision patients.

Did you also know? The same company claims that their pair of weak distance glasses will reduce halos and glare from the new multifocal lens implants. I am eager to see any publications confirming this!