Health & Well-Being: Some herbals may cause eye problems
Health & Well-Being: Some herbals may cause eye problems
People using botanicals to alleviate various conditions should be aware that certain herbs have the potential to cause health or eye problems, cautions Leland Carr, III, OD.
Carr, dean of the College of Optometry at Pacific University, advises that while there is an emerging number of studies on the benefits of some herbs, some of them can be as powerful as prescription drugs, and can be harmful if taken in excess. "The public seems to have endorsed the notion that herbals equal natural," Carr says. "However, there are ocular considerations for many of these products. For example, there have been reported cases of black cohosh causing clotting in the blood vessels in the back of the eye, and intolerance to contact lenses, and changes in the curvature of the cornea."
Other herbs that have been reported, documented or suspected of causing eye problems are: St. John's Wort (it appears to enhance ultraviolet damage to the crystalline lens), ginseng, bilberry extract, kava kava, and an herbal combination of gingko biloba, grapeseed extract, sweet clover, and iodine marketed to combat cellulite.
On the other hand, says Carr, there are some herbs that offer benefits to the patient and present no known harm to the eyes, or may even be helpful. What's more important, though, is for patients to tell their eye care professional which botanicals they are taking.
"About 75% of adult patients using herbals failed to report that usage during standard medication histories," Carr reports. "It's vital that the eye care professional be aware of this, especially if the patient is currently being treated for an eye health disease, such as glaucoma. The optometrist can advise of any possible interactions between herbals and prescription medications, but only if he or she knows what else the person is taking."
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