Medical Marijuana for Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a complex eye condition in which the optic nerve becomes damaged over time. This serious medical condition can reduce peripheral vision and lead to blindness if untreated. Glaucoma is characterized by elevated pressure within the eye; this elevated eye pressure (intraocular pressure or IOP) can be relieved by cannabis use, but the benefits are short lived.

The American Glaucoma Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society do not recommend marijuana or other cannabis products for glaucoma. Since effective treatment of this eye condition requires constant management of IOP, marijuana is not a viable option, as the reduced eye pressure realized when using marijuana only lasts for a few short hours. In order for cannabis to be an effective method of treatment by reducing and maintaining a reduction in intraocular pressure, a patient would need to consume 18-20mg of THC six to eight times per day, every day. This would impair one’s ability to drive, operate machinery, carry out common activities of daily living, and hold down most jobs. The cost would also be an inhibiting factor in using marijuana to control IOP daily.

Various methods of treating glaucoma using the active compound THC found in cannabis have been tested, from smoking to eye drops to pills to edibles, and found that marijuana is not a practical treatment for constant use. If you are dealing with glaucoma, seeing an ophthalmologist and following his or her advice is the best way to discover the treatment that’s right for you.

Medical Alternatives Clinic in Colorado Springs is here to help you discover the best possible treatment option for your situation. If you are suffering from glaucoma or other medical conditions treatable with medical marijuana, we can offer our recommendations on which treatment may work best for you. Give us a call today at (719) 246-0393, or email us at hello@medicalalternativesclinics.com to schedule an appointment with our MMJ doctors in Colorado Springs. We are happy to provide you with a copy of any paperwork you need for your records.