I have just come across an article from 2005 studying the fluid from the anterior chamber from glaucoma patients undergoing glaucoma surgery, with controls from other non-glaucomatous patients. They analyzed hyaluronic acid concentrations in both types of patients and found that glaucoma patients have a significantly reduced amount of hyaluronic acid. The difference was highly significant at P< 0.001.
Hyaluronic acid is a very high molecular weight molecule that is highly concentrated in the vitreous body, the gel that fills the back four fifths of the eye. It is responsible for the gel-like character of the vitreous . It is also the same molecule that is concentrated in joints, making them slippery, and skin, making it thick.
The interesting thing about this article is who would think of looking at hyaluronic acid in the anterior chamber. I hope this will be the basis of a research study examining the ability of oral hyaluronic acid in reducing pressures in patients with glaucoma. In the meantime, if you are considering taking it for your glaucoma, remember that hyaluronic acid is also helpful in keeping joints healthy and skin thick and lustrous. Taking it no downsides that I am aware of. Three times a day is the dosage. Here is the reference abstract.





Exp Eye Res. 2005 Jun;80(6):853-7. Epub 2005 Jan 26.
Concentration of hyaluronic acid in primary open-angle glaucoma aqueous humor.
Navajas EV, Martins JR, Melo LA Jr, Saraiva VS, Dietrich CP, Nader HB, Belfort R Jr.
Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 820, São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil. edunavajas@oftalmo.epm.br
We compared the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the aqueous humor of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and non-glaucomatous patients. Aqueous humor samples were obtained from 22 patients just before trabeculectomy for clinically uncontrolled POAG (POAG group). Aqueous humor (0.1 mL) was aspirated by inserting a 26-gauge needle into the anterior chamber. The same procedure was performed for 22 non-glaucomatous patients just before cataract surgery (control group). Immediately after collection, the aqueous humor was stored at -20 degrees C. The concentration of hyaluronic acid was determined by a sensitive, noncompetitive and nonisotopic fluoroassay. The median (range) concentrations of hyaluronic acid of the POAG and control groups were 298.4 microg L(-1) (99.0-743.7 microg L(-1)) and 545.1 microg L(-1) (145.0-2366.0 microg L(-1)), respectively. The difference in concentrations of hyaluronic acid between the groups was statistically significant (P<0.001). In conclusion, the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the aqueous humor in POAG patients is lower than in non-glaucomatous patients. Further studies are necessary to determine the role of hyaluronic acid in the pathophysiology of POAG.