The Effects of Ingested Vernonia Amygdalina Extract (bitter Leaf) on Intraocular Pressure of Young Adults Between Ages 20 to 40 Years.

ABSTRACT This clinic based-observational study aims to investigate the effect of graded doses of Veronina Amygdalina leaf aqueous extract on intraocular pressure of hundred young adults, male and female aged 20 to 40 years, each participant had their intra ocular pressures values recorded before they were given 10ml of Vernoina Amygdalina leaf extract to ingest, and their intraocular pressure readings were taken again after sixty (60) minutes. Results showed Vernoina Amygdalina leaf extract administered orally had significant hypotensive effects on intra ocular pressure. The highest change in IOP values 13.00 (44.33%) was shown in subjects within the age range of 35-39 and the lowest change in IOP values 11.80 (2.94%) was shown in subject within the age range of 20-24 after ingestion of Vernonia Amygdalina leaf extract. A relationship between the change IOP reading and gender was also noticed after ingestion of Vernonia Amgydalina leaf extract, showing that subjects in the age range 35-39 had the highest change in IOP among the males 13.50 (3%), while the subjects in the age range 30-34 had the highest IOP among the female 12.85 (14%) after consumption of leaf extract, while subjects within the age range 20-24 (32%) had the least mean IOP values (11.88) in males and subjects within the age range 20-24 (39%) had the least mean IOP values (11.73) in females after the ingestion of Vernonia Amygdalina leaf extract. Vernoina Amygdalina leaf extract has significant effect on intraocular pressure and may be effective in the control of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.