Glaucoma

Why it works: Mechanism (cAMP → lower IOP): Forskolin directly stimulates adenylyl cyclase, increasing cAMP in ciliary epithelium and trabecular meshwork. Human and animal experiments show this...

Instructions: Topical (eye-drop) forskolin. • Concentration used: 1% suspension/solution in clinical and volunteer studies. Effects appear within 1–2 hours and last roughly 4–6 hours after a dos...

Warnings: Not a stand-alone or proven disease-modifier: Evidence is insufficient to use forskolin instead of s...

Studies: Foundational physiology / early clinicalLancet (1983): In ra...

Why it works: Lowering eye pressure (IOP) via eicosanoid pathways and outflow facility. In animals, increasing omega-3 intake reduced IOP by ~23%, likely by shifting prostaglandin metabolism tow...

Instructions: There is no glaucoma-specific dosing standard. If you and your ophthalmologist decide to try omega-3s as an adjunct, reasonable approaches are:. • From the IOP RCT in normotensive...

Warnings: Not a proven treatment: Major groups emphasize that nutrition/supplements do not prevent or cure gla...

Studies: Direct IOP effect (non-glaucoma participants):Translational...

Why it works: Neuroprotection & mitochondrial support. Standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (often EGb 761) contains flavonoids/terpenoids that scavenge free radicals, modulate platelet-activating...

Instructions: There’s no official glaucoma dosing guideline. Trials have typically used standardized extracts (24% flavone glycosides / 6% terpene lactones; EGb 761 or equivalent) with divided d...

Warnings: Bleeding risk. Ginkgo can increase bleeding—especially with warfarin, DOACs, aspirin, clopidogrel, o...

Studies: Quaranta et al., Ophthalmology (2003) – 27 NTG patients; ran...

Why it works: THC can lower intraocular pressure (IOP) for a few hours. Since the 1970s, small studies showed that inhaled cannabis (Δ9-THC) reduces IOP for roughly 3–4 hours—not all day—so the...

Instructions: Route & onset: In research, inhaled or oral THC lowers IOP within ~60–90 min, but the benefit fades after <4 hours, implying you’d need dosing every 3–4 hours (including overnight)...

Warnings: Short action → poor disease control: The IOP drop lasts only a few hours; gaps lead to pressure spik...

Studies: Early clinical trials:Merritt et al., 1980 (Ophthalmology):...

Why it works: Vascular support: A randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial in open-angle glaucoma found that oral KRG improved retinal peripapillary blood flow (Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter...

Instructions: There’s no approved dosing regimen for glaucoma. The following are study protocols (not medical advice). Talk to your ophthalmologist before trying.. For ocular blood flow (glaucom...

Warnings: Not a substitute for standard care: Only proven disease-modifying therapy is IOP reduction (drops, l...

Studies: Human studies in glaucoma or glaucoma patients:Ocular blood...

Why it works: Glaucoma stresses retinal ganglion cell (RGC) mitochondria and depletes NAD⁺ with age. Raising NAD⁺ with niacinamide supports mitochondrial energy metabolism and appears to make RG...

Instructions: There is no approved dosing guideline for glaucoma; use has been off-label in clinical trials alongside standard IOP-lowering care. Typical study protocols:. Nicotinamide alone (cr...

Warnings: Niacinamide is a vitamin with a wide safety margin at nutritional doses, but glaucoma trial doses ar...

Studies: Human trialsNicotinamide (1.5 g→3 g/day) vs placebo; 6 weeks...

Why it works: Neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). A 2024 peer-reviewed review in Planta Medica summarizes EB’s mechanisms relevant to glaucomatous optic neuropathy: anti-apoptotic...

Instructions: These are study regimens, not medical advice. If you’re considering EB, discuss it with your ophthalmologist so it can be coordinated with your IOP-lowering plan and monitored appr...

Warnings: Not part of major guidelines / not standard of care. Contemporary glaucoma guidelines emphasize IOP...

Studies: Human randomized trial (placebo-controlled). 40 POAG patient...

Why it works: TCM pattern match: QJDH is used to “nourish Liver & Kidney yin” and “benefit the eyes.” Glaucoma in TCM is sometimes mapped to yin-deficiency patterns; hence the formula is often s...

Instructions: There is no glaucoma-specific, evidence-based dosing. Use only under a TCM practitioner alongside your ophthalmologist.. • Common patent-pill label dosing (example): 8 teapills, 3×...

Warnings: Do not rely on QJDH for acute symptoms. Sudden painful red eye, halos, nausea, or rapid vision loss...

Studies: Supports plausibility (non-clinical):Rat model: CJDHW reduce...

Why it works: Neuroprotection & microcirculation (proposed): The BJYSP formula (10 herbs including Salvia miltiorrhiza, Panax notoginseng, Semen Cuscutae, Schisandra chinensis, Lycium fruit, Pla...

Instructions: Indication (institutional): The producing hospital lists BJYSP among its in-house ophthalmology preparations for “blurred vision, optic-nerve/retinal hypofunction, ametropia” relat...

Warnings: Do not substitute for IOP-lowering therapy. All sources stress that patients can progress despite “n...

Studies: Randomized multicenter trial protocol (2020): Details the pl...

Why it works: Lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) and improves ocular blood flow. In people with ocular hypertension, oral Mirtogenol lowered IOP over months and increased retinal/ophthalmic arter...

Instructions: Product & dose used in trials. • Molecular Vision 2008 (prevention in ocular hypertension): 1 tablet AM + 1 tablet PM for 6 months. Each tablet contained 80 mg Mirtoselect + 40 mg...

Warnings: Bleeding risk / drug interactions. Bilberry anthocyanins and Pycnogenol have antiplatelet activity;...

Studies: Molecular Vision 2008 (pilot, product-evaluation study) — 38...

Why it works: Glaucoma damages retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and growing evidence points to mitochondrial/metabolic stress as part of the problem. L-carnitine shuttles long-chain fatty acids in...

Instructions: If you and your ophthalmologist decide to trial it as an adjunct (not a replacement for IOP-lowering therapy), the only practical options seen in research/clinical practice are:. O...

Warnings: It is not a substitute for IOP-lowering therapy. All major guidelines stress IOP control; neuroprote...

Studies: Preclinical/early translational:Rat/experimental glaucoma mo...