Glaucoma is a complex optic nerve disease that can cause permanent vision loss. While elevated eye pressure is a major risk factor in many patients, it is not the only cause. In Glaucoma optic nerve damage can occur despite normal eye pressure, highlighting the role of factors such as reduced blood flow, ocular inflammation, oxidative stress, neuro-degeneration, and decreased neurotrophic support (BDNF), which is important for retinal nerve cell survival and resilience.
Early diagnosis and treatment of Glaucoma are crucial to prevent significant vision loss.
An estimated 50% of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (PAOG) patients have intraocular pressure below 21 mm Hg.1,2
In Asian populations, Normal Tension Glaucoma (NTG) constitutes the majority of open-angle glaucoma cases, with proportions ranging from 52 to 92%.3,4
1. Relationship Between Intraocular Pressure and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Among White and Black Americans: The Baltimore Eye Survey., Sommer A, Tielsch JM, Katz J, et al., Archives of Ophthalmology. 1991;109(8):1090–1095.
2. Glaucoma and intraocular pressure in EPIC-Norfolk Eye Study: cross-sectional study. Chan MPY, Broadway DC, Khawaja AP, et al., BMJ. 2017;358:j3889.
3. Population-based glaucoma prevalence studies in Asians., Cho HK, Kee C., Surv Ophthalmol. 2014;59(4):434–447.
4. Prevalence of Normal-Tension Glaucoma in the Chinese Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Li F, et al., Am J Ophthalmol. 2018.
In the United States, an estimated 4.2 million adults live with glaucoma. Normal-tension glaucoma accounts for roughly 20–40% of all open-angle glaucoma cases - meaning hundreds of thousands of Americans have glaucoma despite having ‘normal’ eye pressure, and many remain undiagnosed.1,2,3
If your glaucoma care focuses only on lowering eye pressure, the underlying drivers of your disease - vascular, neurological, and systemic - may go unaddressed, and your vision loss can continue to progress.
1. Prevalence of Glaucoma Among US Adults in 2022. Ehrlich JR, Burke-Conte Z, Wittenborn JS, et al., JAMA Ophthalmology. 2024;142(11):1046–1053.
2. Prevalence of glaucoma. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Klein BE, Klein R, Sponsel WE, et al., Ophthalmology. 1992;99(10):1499–1504.
3. Relationship Between Intraocular Pressure and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Among White and Black Americans: The Baltimore Eye Survey., Sommer A, Tielsch JM, Katz J, et al., Archives of Ophthalmology. 1991;109(8):1090–1095.
The retina and optic nerve is under constant stress in glaucoma. Neuroprotection works to shield these cells from ongoing injury, while building resilience helps the nerve withstand future stress.1
Lowering eye pressure addresses one stressor, but it does not strengthen the nerve itself from damage.
Neuro-protective therapy works to preserve the delicate nerve cells responsible for sight - addressing the disease at its source, not just its symptoms.
1. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor-Mediated Neuroprotection in Glaucoma: A Review of Current State of the Art, Lambuk L, et al., Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022;13:875662.
Inside every healthy optic nerve, a protein called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) - acts as a lifeline for retinal ganglion cells, the cells that send visual information from your eye to your brain.
BDNF keeps these cells alive, supports their connections, and helps them recover from stress.
In glaucoma, this lifeline is disrupted. Elevated eye pressure and reduced blood flow block the delivery of BDNF along the optic nerve, leaving ganglion cells without the support they need to survive.1
1. Exploring Serum Levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Nerve Growth Factor Across Glaucoma Stages, Oddone F, Roberti G, Micera A, et al., PLoS One. 2017;12(1):e0168565.
Netra Restoration Therapy (NRT) is an integrative eye-care approach that combines holistic treatment principles from TCM ophthalmology, Ayurvedic ophthalmology, Acupuncture and modern understanding of retinal and optic nerve biology. It is intended as a complementary approach to the conventional ophthalmic care, particularly for chronic retinal, optic nerve, corneal and genetic and neuro-degenerative eye disorders.
Research studies suggest that acupuncture modulates immune responses by activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and vagus nerve, leading to the down-regulation of inflammatory mediators. This immunomodulatory effect contributes to decreased cytokine expression in both systemic circulation and localized ocular tissues.
Similarly, herbal medicines exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting key signaling pathways such as NF-κB and MAPK, which are central to cytokine production. These herbs suppress inflammatory infiltration and oxidative stress, aiding in tissue repair and symptom relief.
NRT exhibits the following multi-component, multi-pathway and multi-targeted synergistic mechanism of action.
By addressing all Glaucoma associated factors, the progression of Glaucoma can be halted.
Improved vision field by revitalizing the sick cells and revival of dormant retinal cells.
All patients have shown to have improvement in visual acuity. Our standard of “Normal Vision” is 20/15 - not 20/20.
Patients with eye drops induced dry eyes experience improved comfort due to a reduction in dry eye symptoms.
Glaucoma patients with myopia see an improvement in visual acuity and may have reduction in prescription power.
Improved contrast sensitivity by restoring function in surviving and under-performing retinal cells.
*Recovery is restricted to surviving retinal ganglion cells and their axons.
NRT works by ocular blood flow regulation, neurotrophic support, reduction of oxidative stress chronic inflammation, ferroptosis, and providing neuroprotection.
Enhance Ocular Blood Flow & Microcirculation: Improves perfusion, supports autoregulation, reduces ischemia
Increase Neurotrophic Support & Neuroprotection: Promotes RGC/photoreceptor survival, boosts resilience
Reduce Oxidative Stress: Decreases ROS injury, protects mitochondria/membranes
Reduce Ocular Inflammation: Modulates cytokines, supports healthy microenvironment
Reduce Ferroptosis: Regulates iron, limits lipid peroxidation
Reduce Excitotoxicity: Prevents neuronal injury from excitatory signals
After treatment I see significant Improvement in my eye conditions. The visual acuity has improved, the watery eye condition, the dryness and itchiness have significantly gone down, the eye pressures have stabilized and prescription number went down significantly.
I highly recommend Netra Eye Institute if you are suffering with any chronic eye conditions like glaucoma or macular degeneration.
Most patients achieve 20/15 vision* after successfully completing their first round of NRT treatment. About 20% can even read a few letters on the 20/10 line.
NRT revitalizes retinal nerve cells, improving their function and enhancing visual clarity and acuity.
*Uncorrected or best corrected visual acuity.
1. Herbal and Natural Treatments for the Management of the Glaucoma: An Update, Vitiello L, et al., BioMed Research International. 2023.
2. Natural Products: Evidence for Neuroprotection to Be Exploited in Glaucoma, Adornetto A, et al., Nutrients. 2020.
3. Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on preexisting visual field damage in normal tension glaucoma, Quaranta L, et al., Ophthalmology. 2003;110(2):359–362.
4. Short-Term Effects of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Peripapillary Retinal Blood Flow in Normal Tension Glaucoma, Park JW, et al., Korean Journal of Ophthalmology. 2011.
5. Ginkgo biloba extract increases ocular blood flow velocity, Chung HS, et al., Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 1999;15(3):233–240.
6. Crocin supplementation in primary open angle glaucoma: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial., Jabbarpoor Bonyadi MH, et al., Medicine in Drug Discovery. 2023.
7. Saffron as a Retinal Neuroprotectant: A Narrative Review of Preclinical Studies and Clinical Results, Fernandez-Albarral JA, et al., Antioxidants. 2026.
8. Pharmacological Effects of Saffron and its Constituents in Ocular Disorders from in vitro Studies to Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review, Bahmani M, et al., Current Drug Targets. 2020.
9. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor-Mediated Neuroprotection in Glaucoma: A Review of Current State of the Art, Lambuk L, et al., Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022;13:875662.
10. Oxidative stress in glaucomatous neurodegeneration: Mechanisms and consequences, Tezel G., Progress in Retinal and Eye Research. 2006;25(5):490–513.
11. Neuroinflammation in glaucoma: A new opportunity, Williams PA, et al., Experimental Eye Research. 2017;157:20–27.
12. Ferroptosis and retinal ganglion cell death in glaucoma: Mechanisms and therapeutic approaches, Qin M, et al., Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis. 2025.
13. Inhibition of ferroptosis promotes retina ganglion cell survival in experimental optic neuropathies, Yao F, et al., Redox Biology. 2022;57:102496.
14. Lycium barbarum (wolfberry) reduces secondary degeneration and oxidative stress, and inhibits JNK pathway in retina after partial optic nerve transection, Li H, et al., PLoS One. 2013;8(7):e68881.
15. Exploring Serum Levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Nerve Growth Factor Across Glaucoma Stages, Oddone F, Roberti G, Micera A, et al., PLoS One. 2017;12(1):e0168565.
Book Appointment or Have questions?
Call (732) 503-9999
to speak with a patient care coordinator.
