This woman isn't really a "patient" of mine in the clinical sense..."Edna" is a middle aged obese woman who I had the pleasure of meeting on an internet discussion board. She told me that she has a history of poorly treated glaucoma, and had been to many eye specialists in the past, but none had been able to treat her effectively. She was rather vague about her ocular history, simply saying that she had not yet found an eye care practitioner who could solve her problems, and worse...she had decided to give up on seeking the care of a glaucoma specialist. At the time I "met her" (I have never physically met this woman, I have only seen her picture and chatted with her via the "personal message" and "posting" system of the forum); she was "self treating" by smoking large amounts of marijuana.

I emphasized to her that although there is "some" evidence that marijuana has been showed to decrease intraocular pressure, it is NOT a cure-all, especially for complex glaucoma patients, and she certainly seemed to qualify. I further explained that glaucoma is an incidious disease, and those who are so afflicted experience a gradual loss of vision but they often times don't realize it until it's too late and they have virtually no chance of escaping ultimate blindness.

I am happy to report that as a result of my internet forum postings with Edna, she has informed me that she has sought the services of an eye doctor who has her back on prescribed glaucoma medications.

-Dr. Steve Schiff