Etiology Risk Factors

Roughly three million people in the United States suffer from glaucoma and the disease has actually impaired two million of those people. Glaucoma is the number one cause of blindness in the United States. Smoked marijuana does have properties that lower high internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure or IOP), alleviating the pain and slowing, sometimes stopping the damage to the eyes.

Marijuana is no longer used just to achieve euphoria or by hippies to show rebellion against the United States authorities. In today’s world you do not need a lava lamp and a van down by the river, you can now receive marijuana from doctors. The medicinal use of marijuana is fairly new in the U.S. One of the most common diseases medical marijuana patients suffer from is glaucoma. Although it is now legal, recent studies show hemp may not be the answer for glaucoma patients. The benefits of marijuana’s use for glaucoma treatment has not proven to outweigh its risks.

Medical marijuana can also be used to treat and prevent the eye disease glaucoma, which can damage the optic nerve, by increased pressure of eyeball and causing loss of vision. According to the National Eye Institute: "Studies in the early 1970s showed that marijuana, when smoked, lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with normal pressure and those with glaucoma." These effects of the drug may prevent blindness. Marijuana use also decreases the symptoms of a severe seizure disorder known as Dravet's Syndrome. THC may be able to slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease, a study led by Kim Janda of the Scripps Research Institute suggests. Another benefit of medical marijuana is that it relieves arthritis discomfort, by reducing inflammation, which may help

There are many scientifically proven health benefits to smoking marijuana the first of which is it can be used to treat glaucoma and other eye disease. Pot doesn’t just treat glaucoma it can be used to prevent it. According to the National Eye Institute "Studies in the early 1970s showed that

Glaucoma is several conditions of the eye that damage the optic nerve, which is vital to perfect vision. This damage is caused due to an abnormally high pressure in your eye. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. It can happen at any age but is most common in older adults. If you lose your vision due to glaucoma, it is not possible to gain it back. It is important to get regular eye appointments because if glaucoma is caught early, the loss of vision can be slowed or prevented. There are two types of glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma and acute angle-closure glaucoma. The symptoms for these two are very different. Open-angle glaucoma symptoms include patchy blind spots in your central or side vision,

It can be used to treat glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease that increases the pressure inside the eyeball and this will damage the optic nerve. When the optic nerve is damaged, it results in blindness. The National Eye Institute conducted studies in the early 1970s which showed that smoked marijuana reduces the intraocular pressure in people who have glaucoma.

Glaucoma is several eye conditions that can damage to your optic nerve. Increased pressure in the eye can cause glaucoma, which leads to vision loss or blindness (Healthline). There are five different types of glaucoma, which are open-angle (chronic) glaucoma, angle-closure (acute) glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, and normal-tension glaucoma (Healthline). Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma, and there are no signs or symptoms expect gradual vision loss (Healthline). People that over sixty years old are at risk for glaucoma, and African Americans risk starts at forty years old. There is no cure for glaucoma, but surgeries and medicine can help

In the article, Yvette states that Glaucoma has been treated with medical marijuana since the 1970’s. Marijuana decreases the intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. In addition to research done by the National Eye Institute, they found that the IOP is lowered after the use of medical marijuana. Even though it is short lived, it only last for about two

United States. “The onset of glaucoma is associated with a build up of pressure inside the eye, a phenomenon called in traocular pressure (IOP). This pressure can take a heavy toll on the eye’s optic nerve and cause total and permanent loss of vision within a few years.” (Moccia pg.30) Some studies and personal testimonials from patients suffering from glaucoma indicate that medical marijuana might be useful in reducing this pressure.

Another health benefit of marijuana is its ability to fight disease. Medical marijuana is often used to treat glaucoma by lowering eye pressure (“Marijuana’s Moment” 42). Glaucoma is defined as a condition of increased pressure within the eyeball that causes the gradual loss of sight. It normally occurs in people 60 years of age and older. Taken by pill or injection, THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, can help keep eye pressure at a low level. Glaucoma cannot be cured, but blindness can be prevented through the use of eye drops and THC pills. Marijuana can also help people with anxiety, as it normally has a calming, relaxing effect (“Marijuana’s Moment” 42). However,

In fact, many doctors and medical professionals will say that marijuana has not been evaluated enough and may actually present serious side effects in addition to not totally treating the ailment for which it was prescribed, “Based on current evidence, I believe that marijuana is a dangerous drug and that there are less dangerous medicines offering the same relief from pain and other medical symptoms.”(Bill Frist). Additionally, in regards to marijuana being an effective treatment for glaucoma, the National Eye Institute says, “The identification of side effects from smoked marijuana, coupled with the emergence of highly effective FDA-approved medications for glaucoma treatment, may have led to diminished interest in this research area”. Obviously, marijuana is not as effective at treating medical ailments as many people would like to believe. In fact, marijuana may be hurting patients rather than helping them, “3-4 Cannabis cigarettes a day are associated with the same evidence of acute and chronic bronchitis and the same degree of damage to the bronchial mucosa as 20 or more tobacco cigarettes a day. Cannabis smoking is likely to weaken the immune system. Infections of the lung are due to a combination of smoking-related damage to the cells lining the bronchial passage and impairment of the

Marijuana can both have physical and psychological benefits. It can be a great help in treating glaucoma. Glaucoma is one of the common eye problems where the pressure of the fluids in the eye gets higher than the usual. These condition can destroy the optic nerve if not treated. It can lead to the loss of vision or blindness in more common term. Glaucoma can be treated through medication and surgery, most probably laser surgery. Pills and some eyedrops can also help in preventing or controlling but it does not mean that it can cure glaucoma.

Signs/Symptoms: The way a person would know if they have Glaucoma, an eye disease that can make someone go blind, is by looking for the signs or symptoms. Symptoms of Open Angle Glaucoma are patchy blindness spots in the peripheral or central vision and “tunnel” vision in both eyes. The symptoms for Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma are, as said by Glaucoma - Symptoms and Causes by The Mayo Clinic “eye pain, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, “halos” around lights - which may be rainbow,” red eyes, and sudden sight loss. The symptoms of this kind of Glaucoma have no typical early warning signs. This is the reason people don’t notice it until it is too late, and they end up losing their vision if it is not treated.

Cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC) are the two main active chemicals found in marijuana that have positive medical benefits. Tetrahydrocannabidiol causes pain relief, and cannabidiol seems to impact the brain without a high. Marijuana when smoked can be used to treat the progression of some health conditions, such as glaucoma. According to the National Eye Institute studies in the 70’s showed that smoking marijuana reduced intraocular pressure in both healthy eyes and the eyes of a person suffering from glaucoma. In 2012 a similar study was published in the journal of the “American Medical Association” about marijuana. The study stated that marijuana does not impair lung function and can even increase lung capacity.

This case study follows a 63-year-old Caucasian man with a 55-year history of long-standing retinal detachment after trauma. He came into their facility and presented pain and redness, a total hyphema, no light perception vision and an intraocular pressure of 60 mmHg (right eye). He disclosed that he has a history of diabetes and coronary artery disease. He also stated he was hit in the eye with a stone 55 years ago. Following anterior chamber washout, he was found to have neovascular glaucoma. After washout and intraocular pressure control, his visual acuity improved to light perception. He underwent vitrectomy, membrane peeling, endolaser and silicone oil placement to reattach his retina, and then a second retinal reattachment procedure Following