Glaucoma is an eye condition, where you experience loss of vision due to deterioration of your optic nerve. Your optic nerve is the nerve that transfers information signals from your eye to your brain. In most cases, a build-up of pressure in your eye itself is what damages your optic nerve, but there may be other causes as well. Read on to learn more about glaucoma and how Chinese Medicine can help you treat it.
The five main types of glaucoma are:
Out of these five types of glaucoma, open-angle (chronic) glaucoma is the most common. If you have this type of glaucoma, you probably won’t notice any other symptoms except gradual vision loss. On the other hand, if you have angle-closure (acute) glaucoma, you will likely experience symptoms such as severe eye pain, nausea, vomiting, and a red colour in your eye as well as sudden visual changes. Angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency, so seek urgent medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms.
Congenital glaucoma is a condition that children are born with, due to problems with the structure of their eyes. Children with congenital glaucoma may be sensitive to light or have cloudy eyes or excessive tearing. Secondary glaucoma is glaucoma that is caused by another factor, such as a pre-existing eye condition, injury to your eye, or some medications. Normal tension glaucoma is when your optic nerve is damaged without you having a high pressure inside your eye. For example, insufficient blood flow to your optic nerve may lead to normal tension glaucoma.
In most cases, glaucoma is caused by too much pressure inside your eye. The high pressure can damage your optic nerve, and lead to loss of vision and blindness. One common way that pressure builds up inside your eye is when the drainage pathways get blocked. This means that the fluid inside your eye (called aqueous humour) has nowhere to go. Since your eye constantly produces this fluid, the pressure will increase if the drainage pathways are blocked. Other factors may also cause the pressure inside your eyes (your intraocular pressure, IOP) to increase. These factors may include medications (such as corticosteroids), some eye drops, and high blood pressure.
The first step to treating glaucoma is getting an early diagnosis. It’s important to get thorough eye checks every year, so that any signs of glaucoma can be detected early. The best way to address glaucoma is to start treatment as soon as you’re diagnosed. Treatment can reduce your IOP, slow down the progression of your condition, and even stop your condition from getting worse. However, once your vision is damaged, doctors are not able to restore it. Hence, it’s crucial to diagnose glaucoma early.
If your glaucoma is caused by high IOP, the first step in treatment is to reduce the pressure inside your eye. The most common way to reduce IOP is by using special eye drops. There are also some oral medications that your doctor may prescribe for you if the eye drops aren’t working. If your IOP is increasing due to blocked drainage pathways, you may require surgery. This can clear the drainage pathways or create new paths for your eye fluid to drain away.
If you have angle-closure (acute) glaucoma, you’ll require immediate medical treatment to reduce the pressure in your eye as fast as possible. Medications are usually used first, but if they don’t work you may require a laser peripheral iridotomy. This is a surgical treatment that uses a laser to make small holes in your iris to allow fluid to drain.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a different outlook on glaucoma and its treatment. In Chinese Medicine, your body is seen as a whole, where all your organs are connected to each other, and your whole body. Therefore, your eyes are not seen as separate from your body but linked to your body. Specifically, your liver and gallbladder contribute strongly to the health of your eyes. If your liver and gallbladder are out of balance, it will be impossible for your eyes to heal. So, when treating you for glaucoma, your Chinese Medicine practitioner will also use techniques to balance your liver and gallbladder.
Acupuncture is one technique that Chinese Medicine practitioners use to balance the energy in your body. They insert very fine needles into specifically selected points on your body that link to energy meridians. This allows them to adjust the energy in your body, clearing stagnations, regulating the flow of energy, and balancing your organs. Techniques like acupuncture can strengthen and nourish your body, allowing it to heal itself.
Researchers have studied the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a treatment for glaucoma. One article found that, “Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) improves optic nerve injury and systemic symptoms in patients with POAG [Primary Open Angle Glaucoma].” This means that Chinese Medicine is a valid and useful way of treating glaucoma.
Overall, glaucoma is an eye condition caused by damage to your optic nerve. In most cases, this occurs due to high IOP. Open-angle glaucoma is a chronic condition, and is the most common type of glaucoma, while angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately. Glaucoma treatment starts with an early diagnosis, and usually consists of eye drops or medications. Surgery may also be required in some cases. Traditional Chinese Medicine is also a good way to treat glaucoma naturally, by balancing the energy in your body and allowing it to heal.
Holland, K. (2017, March 31). Glaucoma. Healthline.https://www.healthline.com/health/glaucoma
Mu, L., Wu, J., Wu, X., Su, X., Ding, D., Zhang, Y. & Dong, Z. (2022). Research advances of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of primary open angle glaucoma. Journal of Alternative, Complementary, & Integrative Medicine, 8, 269. DOI:10.24966/ACIM-7562/100269
