Marijuana for Glaucoma: A Recipe for Disaster or Treatment?
Marijuana has been shown to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) but with limited duration of action and numerous adverse effects. Use of marijuana to lower IOP as a means of glaucoma treatment would require frequent use throughout the day, leading to significant adverse effects, possible progression toward Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), and/or withdrawal symptoms. The treatment of glaucoma based on the cannabis plant or drugs based on the cannabinoid molecule should be considered carefully before being prescribed. Considerations should include the adverse physical and psychological adverse effects, including substance abuse. Currently, the deleterious effects of marijuana outweigh the benefits of its IOP-lowering capacity in most glaucoma patients. Under extremely rare circumstances, a few categories of glaucoma patients may be potential candidates for treatment with medical marijuana. Further studies on alternate routes and more focused means of cannabinoid molecule delivery to the eye for glaucoma treatment are needed.
Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Xiaoshen
X
Sun
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Chaoying S
CS
Xu
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
Nisha
N
Chadha
Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Allshine
A
Chen
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Ji
J
Liu
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D064086:Medical Marijuana / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D064086:Medical Marijuana
addiction; cannabis use disorder; glaucoma; intraocular pressure; medical marijuana