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I have been in alternative medecines since a young age since my father owned les Laboratoires Holis in Canada where I grew up.  He had his own line of herbal products and also manufactured homeopathic products for other companies. 

So I know one thing or two about herbs and homeopathy.  And nutrition too.  I don't eat dairy, soy and meat or refined sugar  I do take selective herbs and vitamins for my eyes and my health in general (around 15 a day). I do exercise an hour and half a day.  So I do take care of myself. 

Question: I just had a really fun and exciting time and I measured my intraocular pressure afterwards (via self-tonometry). After this stimulating time, the intraocular pressure was average 25pts. It is usually only 16 this time of night.

Therefore, I think adrenalin plays a big part in my elevated eye pressures.

Mode of action of taurine as a neuroprotector.

1. DESCRIPTION: Vinpocetine is a semi-synthetic derivative of vincamine. Vincamine is an alkaloid derived from the plant Vinca minor L., a member of the periwinkle family. Vinpocetine, as well as vincamine, are used in Europe, Japan and Mexico as pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of cerebrovascular and cognitive disorders. In the United States, vinpocetine is marketed as a dietary supplement. It is sometimes called a nootropic, meaning cognition enhancer, from the Greek noos for mind.

NO to Glaucoma

By Sean Henahan, Access Excellence
 

St. Louis, MO (8.19.99)- A new neuroprotective approach aimed at blocking the synthesis of nitric oxide may offer the hope of new treatments for glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the world.

Inhibition of nitric-oxide synthase 2 by aminoguanidine provides neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells in a rat model of chronic glaucoma

Has anyone had ECP done to them or have information about it? How long has it been around? Long term success rate?

Any help would be appreciated

It is known now that the optical nerve on glaucoma patients is due to the different changes in the eyes between pressure and less or non pressure. So the drops we are taking are reducing the pressure but are not protecting the optical nerve although I read that Brimonidine drops do a better job in doing so.  I found  out that aminoguanidine has been scientifically proven to protect the optical nerve in animal.  Can't find any research on humans.

Has anyone undergone stem cell therapy for glaucoma.   They do practice stem cells at http://www.xcell-center.com/

I was told that they are ready to do it but noone has wanted to be the first.    I have read many scientific articles of the success of stem cells for glaucoma on animals but nothing on human yet. 

Do anyone knows where OCUFORS stands right now.  All the news I have read about this new eyedrop is

3 to 4 year old. 

Does anyone has tried the microcurrents of Dr. Kondrot for glaucoma.  He is coming to Chicago and the cost is

a tremendous $5000 including the unit and it's set up.  I have read that MC are efficient in macular degeneration but I haven't seen any scientific proof that it is helping glaucoma patient. 

I started using the AT555 this past week and it has been very helpful in revealing what is going on with my eyes on a number  of different areas. For one, I have determined what I always suspected, and that is that my eye pressures spike about 1/2 hour after arising in the morning and then continue high until about 12 noon. I have open angles and ocular hypertension, and surprisingly no visual field or optic nerve damage (yet).  After noon time, my pressures will decline to normal values and even get down to around 12 without drops!

More 'eye stuff' from the plant kingdom..

The ocular dynamics of bolus consumption of 300 mg total dose was undertaken on visually active volunteers with a view to finding its ocular effects or complications. Results showed that the aqueous extract of X. aethiopica was neither a miotic nor a mydriatic, but lowered the intraocular pressure (17.48%)

 I have recently acquired and been using a Reichert AT555 and getting familiar with it. So far it has confirmed what I have suspected since getting a diagnoses of ocular hypertension 10 years ago - and that is that my pressures vary widely throughout the day.  Fortunately, I do not have any optic nerve damage or visual field impairment, but my pressures can vary as much as 16 points from the time I get up till later in the evening (31mm Hg (AM) - 16mm Hg (PM) without drops.

Does Licorice Increase Intraocular Pressure? I attempted to answer this question for a friend today.

Here is the information I have so far:

1. Glycyrrhizin is the main sweet tasting compound from liquorice root.

2. A derivative of glycyrrhizin is glycyrrhetinic acid.

3. Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits 11β-HSD1 (11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1; 11βHSD1 is an NADPH-
dependent enzyme highly expressed in the liver and adipose tissue).

This may be of interest to some. In no way am I recommending the use of any item on this list!

The information in the Review of Ophthalmology article by August L. Reader III, MD, FACS, San Francisco, is very interesting. However, as you read it keep in mind that what is presented is a mix of strongly supported evidence and speculation. For example, section on carrot-family herbs contains a lot of pure speculation. It is still interesting and I have presented a portion of the article here.

Click this link to read the whole article: http://www.revophth.com/index.asp?page=1_479.htm