Medical Cannabis for Glaucoma - Myth and Facts

Glaucoma is one of the most frequently repeated associations with medical cannabis - many people have heard that cannabis helps the eyes. This is a topic where you have to be especially honest, because the truth is more complex than the popular myth.

In short: yes, THC can lower the pressure inside the eye, but in practice cannabis is not a good way to treat glaucoma - and we will explain why right away.

In the 1970s it was noticed that THC lowers the pressure inside the eyeball, and raised pressure is the main factor damaging the optic nerve in glaucoma. From this came the belief that cannabis treats glaucoma. It sounds logical - the problem is in the details.

The pressure-lowering effect after THC is short, lasting about 3 to 4 hours. To keep the eye protected around the clock, you would have to take cannabis many times day and night, staying in a state of constant intoxication - impractical and unhealthy.

On top of that, THC also lowers blood pressure, which can worsen blood supply to the sensitive optic nerve. So on one hand it helps, on the other it potentially harms.

Ophthalmology societies do not recommend cannabis for treating glaucoma. Available eye drops, laser treatment and procedures are more effective, more convenient and safer for sight.

This is a rare case where the honest answer is: do not go this way. Untreated or poorly treated glaucoma leads to irreversible loss of sight.

Glaucoma requires ongoing ophthalmology care: regular eye-pressure measurements and treatment, most often with drops. Do not replace this with cannabis and do not put off seeing a specialist - this is a disease in which time matters.

If, besides glaucoma, you have another indication - for example chronic pain or insomnia - that is an entirely separate matter you can discuss with a doctor. But a glaucoma diagnosis on its own is not a reason to reach for medical cannabis. We describe what qualification looks like with real indications in our article how to get a prescription.