Abstract
Purpose :
Although several studies have demonstrated temporary IOP decrease following topical or systemic administration of cannabis, several disadvantages limit its usefulness as a therapeutic option to treat glaucoma. A lack of robust information regarding this matter seems to be present among glaucoma patients. This study main objective is to investigate knowledge and beliefs on medical benefits of cannabis consumption, in special on regards of glaucoma therapy.
Methods :
A 24-item questionnaire was applied to 87 consecutive patients visiting an specialized glaucoma center, selecting the ones who gave their authorization to proceed with the survey. The attending specialist read the different items to the participant. Explanation to the open questions was offered if the patients had doubts or comments.
Results :
Eighty seven patients were included in the study. Mean age of participants was 62.3 ± 13.0 years old, 81.1% were female, 25.8% graduated from university, 50% spend time in internet, 27.6% have no private or public cover, 31% had diabetes mellitus, and 43% systemic hypertension. Regarding the glaucoma affecting participants (44.8% with primary open-angle glaucoma; 22.4% with closed-angle closure glaucoma), the disease was severe in 50% of them, 7.2 ± 6.8 years of diagnosis, with a median of 2 antiglaucoma medications, 46.5% underwent laser / incisional surgery. Almost 80% of the participants answered that they knew that cannabis has medical properties but only have of them were able to determine an specific medical application. Twenty four percent of the subjects declared that cannabis could be used for medically treat glaucoma but only 12% answered that IOP reduction was the mechanism that could be of some benefit for glaucoma therapy. Internet users and younger patients were more knowledgeable on medical and glaucoma efecto of cannabis (P = 0.02). Seventy five percent responden that cannabis can cause addiction and 50% declared to favor that cannabis should be decriminalized in Mexico.
Conclusions :
This study demonstrated that less than half of the glaucoma patients know that cannabis could have applications in medicine. Only a quarter of participants are conscious that glaucoma could be a therapeutic target for cannabis treatment but just few of them knwo the mechanism of such application.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.