Mirtogenol® Supplement For Glaucoma
Of the supplements available to treat glaucoma, Mirtogenol® is the one that I am most likely to recommend. It has both evidence of benefit as well as a track record of being well-tolerated with few side effects.
What is Mirtogenol®
Mirtogenol® is composed of extracts from bilberry (Mirtoselect ®) and French maritime pine bark (Pycnogenol ®). These extracts have been shown to increase the blood flow to the eye.
Evidence that Mirtogenol® Can Be Used To Treat Glaucoma:
Initial evidence that Mirtogenol® could lower IOP was published in 2008[1]. Although the study size was small (20 patients treated with Mirtogenol®, 18 patients untreated) Mirtogenol® taken orally twice daily was shown to decrease IOP by 3mmHg after two months of therapy. Additionally, 95% of the patients who took Mirtogenol® experienced a reduction in IOP.
In a study published in 2010[2] Mirtogenol® (120mg taken once daily) was shown to lower IOP almost as much as prostaglandin analog eye drops (one of the more effective classes of glaucoma medications). In addition, when Mirtogenol® was combined with the use of a prostaglandin analog the IOP was reduced even further. The amount of additional IOP reduction was similar to what I generally expect from adding another class of prescription eye drop.
One limitation of Mirtogenol® is that its effect on IOP is not immediate. It took six times as long as latanoprost (24 vs 4 weeks) for the full effect of Mirtogenol® (120mg taken once daily) to appear. Based on the 2008 study, however, it may be possible to speed up the response by taking a larger initial dose (120mg taken twice daily).
Potential Side Effects and Risks of Mirtogenol®:
No serious side effects from Mirtogenol® were noted in the above studies. Indeed, according to the authors of the 2010 study, “serious side-effects have never been reported for Mirtoselect ® and Pycnogenol ®, despite their decades-old use in ophthalmology”.
Recommended Dosage:
Mirtogenol® tablets contain 80mg of Mirtoselect® bilberry extract and 40mg of Pycnogenol® French maritime pine bark extract. The above studies instructed their patients to take one (2010 study) or two (2008 study) tablets of Mirtogenol® each day.
Where To Buy Mirtogenol® and Cost:
Interested on taking Mirtogenol® supplement to treat your glaucoma? Mirtogenol® can be found on Amazon.com ($25-30 for a two to four week supply)..
References
- Steigerwalt RD, Belcaro G, Paolo M, Bombardelli E, Burki C, Schönlau F. Effects of Mirtogenol on ocular blood flow and intraocular hypertension in asymptomatic subjects. Mol Vis. 2008;14:1288–1292.
- Steigerwalt RD, Belcaro G, Paolo M, Bombardelli E, Burki C, Schönlau F. Mirtogenol potentiates latanoprost in lowering intraocular pressure and improves ocular blood flow in asymptomatic subjects. Clinical Ophthalmology 2010; 4: 471-476.
Don’t delay getting checked for glaucoma.
Make an appointment with an eye doctor in your area now. If you live in the greater Los Angeles area and would like Dr. Richardson to evaluate your eyes for glaucoma call 626-289-7856 now. No referral required. Appointments are available, Tuesday through Saturday.
