Herbal Medicines in Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Optimizing treatment is important to protecting vision. The current standard of therapy for glaucoma involves lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) through medical, laser, and/or surgical therapy. Nevertheless, there are an increasing number of glaucoma patients that use alternative medicines to treat their glaucoma or supplement their traditional glaucoma management. Ginkgo biloba, bilberry, and medical marijuana are amongst the most commonly used medicinal plants by glaucoma patients. We reviewed the literature to determine the benefits, safety, and efficacy of these herbal remedies. Though ginkgo biloba and bilberry may prevent or slow down retinal ganglion cell death, there is no evidence yet to suggest that they alter the course of glaucoma. Medical marijuana has shown IOP lowering effect in some individuals, but its short duration of action, significant adverse effects, and addictive potential have rendered it an inappropriate standard therapeutic agent for glaucoma. Larger studies with longer durations that investigate the effect of herbal medicines on the course of glaucoma in comparison to the current standard of care are needed to elucidate their benefits in glaucoma treatment.