Can cannabis help correct glaucoma?

I think our eyesight is something we truly take for granted. The fact you can see the world around you is a truly awesome sense that some arent lucky enough to have, or some have been stripped of theirs. A conversation with Dad and a close family member prompted me to learn about the possibilities of Cannabis helping to manage Glaucoma.

In medically legal states glaucoma is frequently becoming a qualifying condition for cannabis. Ophthalmologists opinions vary about the effectiveness of cannabis though. There are some who seem to stand by it and some who don’t recommend it at all. Research that dates back to the 1970s found cannabis can lower IOP (Intraocular Pressure) around 25 to 30 percent. The reduction of pressure also causes a drop in blood pressure. 
The cause of the dreaded G word is an increase of fluid pressure which damages the optic nerve and can lead to blindness. Currently there are a few treatment options available such as eye drops or laser surgery. Since cannabis is known to lower IOP, it would make sense to use it as a treatment. There are a few issues though.

Cannabis’s effectiveness has been known for years but a big problem seems to be with correct dosage. Patients want their IOP decreased but since there is no standard dose for eye conditions there may be erratic fluctuations. Smoked cannabis isnt highly recommended because of the short duration of effectiveness. Oral consumption is recommended in this case. CBD is a known anti inflammatory that patients seem to have positive results with. Other compounds in cannabis such as CBG and CBN have also been seen to have positive effects. Drops in blood pressure make cannabis a more effective treatment for patients with high blood pressure. On the flip side people with low blood pressure should be cautious.

The overall problem with it all is there hasn’t been enough research done that is widely enough accepted. Federal illegality stunts progress.