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How Does Medical Marijuana Help Glaucoma?

Olivia Castro

Updated: Jul 11, 2023

What is Glaucoma?


According to the AAO, glaucoma is when fluid is built up around the front part of the eye creating high pressure and damaging the eye's optic nerve. One of the two main types of glaucoma is open-angle, the most common form that accounts for at least 90% of all Glaucoma cases. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, there are 3 million Americans currently living with glaucoma and only 50% of these individuals are aware that they have this condition.


What are the symptoms?


Here are some of the most common symptoms associated with this condition:

  • Blind spots

  • Blurred vision

  • Halos around lights

  • Eye pain

  • Redness of the eyes

  • Nausea

  • Headaches

  • Vomiting

  • Vision disturbances


How Can Medical Marijuana Help Treat Glaucoma?


Glaucoma often results in partial or total blindness, as the optic nerve becomes damaged in one way or another. The optic nerve damage that occurs is usually due to intraocular pressure, and medical marijuana effectively reduces intraocular pressure. Therefore, marijuana is an effective treatment in alleviating the symptoms of glaucoma.



The only way to control glaucoma and prevent vision loss is to lower your IOP levels. Your ophthalmologist can treat glaucoma with medication, varying from prescription eye drops to surgery depending on how severe it is.


Marijuana is effective at reducing intraocular pressure but only for a short period of time (roughly 4 hours). Various products can provide all of the medicinal benefits of the drug without the associated ‘high’. These new products make extensive use of the non-psychoactive compound found in marijuana, CBD. That way, without the high, medical marijuana can be used without interfering with your normal activities.


The effects of a single-dose may be short-lived, but this does not delegitimize marijuana’s effectiveness at improving quality of life for patients with glaucoma. Medical marijuana not only provides a nearly instant reduction in intraocular pressure, but medical marijuana can also provide relief from other symptoms of the disease including nausea, pain, and headaches.


If you or someone you love suffers from glaucoma, you do qualify for medical marijuana treatment. Call us today (844) 249- 8714 to learn more and to book your appointment!


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