Our breakthrough and revolutionized Netra Restoration Therapy (NRT) helps improve visual acuity, visual field, contrast sensitivity and clearer vision.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, often leading to permanent vision loss if left untreated. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, with over 60 million people affected. While glaucoma is commonly linked to increased intraocular pressure (IOP), it can also occur with normal IOP, known as normal tension glaucoma (NTG). The optic nerve, responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain, can suffer irreversible damage due to increased pressure or poor blood flow, resulting in gradual vision deterioration.
There are several types of glaucoma, with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) being the most common. In POAG, the drainage system in the eye becomes less efficient, leading to increased fluid buildup and elevated IOP. Normal pressure glaucoma (NTG), on the other hand, occurs when the optic nerve is damaged despite normal eye pressure, often due to poor blood circulation. In secondary glaucoma, an underlying condition, such as trauma or inflammation, leads to increased IOP.
While lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) with eye drops has long been the standard treatment for glaucoma, it addresses only part of the problem. Many patients continue to experience vision loss and glaucoma progression even with controlled IOP. This highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that also supports optic nerve health and targets underlying causes beyond eye pressure.
Optic nerve damage isn't always caused by high eye pressure.
While elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor, many people develop glaucoma even with normal or low eye pressure—a condition known as normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).
Lowering IOP is important, but not always enough.
Studies show that 30–40% of glaucoma patients continue to lose vision despite maintaining normal eye pressure. This highlights the need for a more comprehensive glaucoma treatment approach that goes beyond just IOP management.
Individualized care is essential.
These patients may require more than just IOP-lowering treatments. For instance, neuroprotective strategies targeting the optic nerve or treatments to improve ocular blood flow to the retina and optic nerve may be considered to reduce progression.
What causes continued vision loss in glaucoma?
Multiple research studies have shown factors such as reduced ocular blood flow, neurotrophins deprivation, increased oxidative stress, ocular inflammation and excitotoxicity can be contributing to vision loss progression in Glaucoma.
That’s why at Netra Eye Clinic, we go beyond the conventional. Our holistic glaucoma management blends modern diagnostics with natural, neuroprotective treatments to address the root causes of vision loss, especially in cases of normal tension glaucoma.
What are neurotrophins?
Neurotrophins are a vital family of proteins that support neuron growth, survival, and function. In healthy eyes, they are essential for maintaining the health of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the optic nerve, which are crucial for clear, functional vision.
Why do neurotrophins matter in glaucoma?
In glaucoma, patients often experience neurotrophin deprivation, especially as intraocular pressure (IOP) rises or other stressors like oxidative stress and ocular inflammation set in. This lack of support accelerates optic nerve damage, leading to retinal ganglion cell death and progressive vision loss—even when IOP is under control.
Herbal medicines used in NRT offers an effective therapy for the treatment of glaucoma by enhancing neurotrophin expression and supporting retinal ganglion cell survival. The mechanisms by which they provide neurotrophic support are multifaceted, involving antioxidant effects, modulation of inflammation, and direct stimulation of neurotrophic factors like BDNF, NGF, and GDNF.
Recent studies in glaucoma research reveal a crucial link between reduced ocular blood flow (OBF) and the progression of vision loss, even when intraocular pressure (IOP) is well-managed. Research highlights that patients with low ocular perfusion pressure (OPP)—the difference between blood pressure and IOP—face significantly higher risks of optic nerve damage. These risks increase during nocturnal blood pressure dips, a time when the eye becomes especially vulnerable. Vascular imaging also shows that fluctuating blood flow may predict glaucoma progression more accurately than IOP levels alone.
The optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain, relies on a delicate balance of blood flow to maintain its health. In glaucoma, particularly primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), there is growing evidence that insufficient ocular blood flow may contribute to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which form the optic nerve.
Acupuncture, microcurrent stimulation and herbal medicines used in NRT offers an effective therapy for the treatment of Glaucoma with its rich array of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasodilatory properties to enhance blood circulation in the eye, reduce oxidative stress, and provide neuroprotective effects.
Inflammation can disrupt the delicate balance within the eye, leading to increased intraocular pressure (IOP)—a major risk factor for optic nerve damage. Emerging research shows that ocular inflammation plays a significant role in the development and progression of glaucoma. Chronic inflammation not only contributes to elevated eye pressure but also directly harms the optic nerve, accelerating vision loss in glaucoma patients.
Scientific studies have identified elevated levels of inflammatory markers in patients with glaucoma. These include cytokines like IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, prostaglandins such as PGE2 and COX, and enzymes like MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9. These compounds have been found in the aqueous humor, serum, and ocular tissues, indicating that inflammation is not just a side effect but may be a key driver of glaucomatous damage.
In addition to inflammatory markers, oxidative stress plays a critical role in worsening glaucoma. Elevated levels of MDA, SOD, and nitric oxide (NO) disrupt cellular balance and lead to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs).
Acupuncture and herbal medicines used in NRT offers an effective therapy to address the inflammatory markers involved in glaucoma by:
Oxidative stress occurs when there's an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s ability to neutralize them with antioxidants. This imbalance leads to cellular damage in crucial parts of the eye, including the optic nerve and the retinal ganglion cells.
Oxidative stress plays a multifaceted role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma by impairing cellular function and inducing damage through mitochondrial dysfunction, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and oxidative damage to retinal cells. Targeting oxidative stress and enhancing cellular antioxidant defenses hold promise for therapeutic interventions in glaucoma management.
Utilizing acupuncture, microcurrent stimulation, and specially formulated herbal medicines as part of our Neuroprotective Regenerative Therapy (NRT) to reduce oxidative stress and support retinal health. These therapies offer powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective benefits, helping to protect the optic nerve and slow the progression of glaucoma-related vision loss.
Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death triggered by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, as a key contributor to the neurodegenerative processes in glaucoma. This discovery adds a new dimension to our understanding of glaucoma, which was traditionally linked only to intraocular pressure (IOP). The involvement of ferroptosis in the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) offers a deeper insight into the root causes of optic nerve damage.
Ferroptosis has been identified as a pathogenic factor in glaucoma primarily due to its involvement in oxidative stress, iron dysregulation, and lipid peroxidation, all of which are characteristic features of glaucoma's neurodegenerative processes. This highlights the importance of addressing cellular stress and metabolic imbalances alongside traditional pressure-lowering therapies.
Managing glaucoma is no longer just about lowering eye pressure—it's about understanding and treating the underlying neurodegeneration. By addressing ferroptosis and supporting the optic nerve on a cellular level, our holistic treatment approach offers hope for preserving vision, especially in patients who continue to progress despite normal IOP.
Our integrated approach includes acupuncture, microcurrent stimulation, and herbal medicines that have been shown to reduce ferroptosis through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective mechanisms. These therapies support retinal health, protect RGCs, and may slow or halt the progression of glaucoma.
Reducing your Intraocular Pressure may not be enough to stop your Glaucoma progression!
Optic nerve damage usually occurs in the presence of high eye (intraocular) pressure. However, glaucoma can be diagnosed with normal or even lower than normal eye pressure.
Multiple research studies have shown factors such as reduced ocular blood flow, neurotrophins deprivation, increased oxidative stress, ocular inflammation and excitotoxicity can be contributing to vision loss progression in Glaucoma.
At some point, peripheral vision is lost and without treatment, an individual can become totally blind. Many even continue to experience vision loss even after maintaining normal intraocular pressure.
At Netra Eye Clinic, we believe glaucoma treatment should be as unique as the individuals we care for. While most approaches focus solely on lowering intraocular pressure, our philosophy goes beyond conventional care to address the deeper, underlying causes of optic nerve damage.
Want to learn more about our NRT holistic eye treatments or need help to schedule an appointment for a consultation? Call us at (732)-503-9999 or fill out the contact us form below.
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