Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the nerve cells in the retina, often leading to vision loss. Researchers discovered that some glaucoma patients have high levels of antibodies against a protein called HSP27. In this study, scientists gave mice this protein to trigger glaucoma-like damage, then tested whether intermittent fasting (eating normally some days and fasting others) could help. Mice that fasted for 24 hours three times per week showed significantly better protection of their eye nerve cells compared to mice that ate normally. The fasting appeared to work by reducing inflammation in the eye, suggesting it might become a helpful additional treatment for glaucoma patients alongside current therapies.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating on a schedule (fasting 24 hours three days per week) could protect mouse eyes from glaucoma-like damage caused by a specific protein
  • Who participated: Laboratory mice (CD1 breed) that were given injections into their eyes to create glaucoma-like conditions. Groups ranged from 4 to 7 eyes per condition being studied
  • Key finding: Mice that fasted intermittently kept their eye nerve cells healthy and intact, while mice that ate normally lost significant numbers of these critical nerve cells. The fasting group also had much lower inflammation markers in their eyes and blood
  • What it means for you: This suggests intermittent fasting might help protect glaucoma patients’ vision, but this is early-stage research in mice. Anyone with glaucoma should talk to their eye doctor before trying fasting, as this study is not yet ready for human treatment recommendations

The Research Details

Scientists used laboratory mice to test whether intermittent fasting could prevent eye damage from glaucoma. They injected a protein called HSP27 into one eye of each mouse to trigger glaucoma-like damage, while leaving the other eye untreated as a comparison. Half the mice ate normally whenever they wanted, while the other half fasted (no food) for 24 hours, three days per week. After four weeks, researchers examined the mice’s eyes using imaging technology and looked at tissue samples under microscopes to count nerve cells, measure inflammation, and check for signs of cell death.

This research design is important because it allows scientists to see cause-and-effect relationships that wouldn’t be possible in human studies. By comparing fasting mice to non-fasting mice with identical eye damage, researchers could isolate whether fasting itself provided protection. The combination of imaging, tissue analysis, and blood tests gave a complete picture of how fasting affected the eye at multiple levels

This is a controlled laboratory study with clear comparisons between groups, which is a solid research approach. However, the sample sizes are relatively small (4-7 eyes per group), and results in mice don’t always translate directly to humans. The study was published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, meaning other experts reviewed it before publication. The findings are promising but represent early-stage research that needs follow-up studies before doctors could recommend fasting as a glaucoma treatment

What the Results Show

The most important finding was that mice receiving intermittent fasting maintained normal numbers of retinal ganglion cells (the nerve cells that die in glaucoma), while mice that ate normally lost significant numbers of these cells after HSP27 injection. Fasting mice showed retinas that looked similar to healthy control eyes, suggesting the fasting protected the nerve cells from damage. Additionally, fasting dramatically reduced inflammation markers in the eye tissue. Two key inflammation signals (TNFα and IL-1β) were significantly lower in fasting mice compared to non-fasting mice with the same eye damage. These inflammation markers were also lower in the blood of fasting mice, indicating the anti-inflammatory effect happened throughout the body, not just in the eye.

The study found that HSP27 injection caused increased scarring-like changes in the eye tissue (called gliosis), but fasting prevented this scarring. Fasting also reduced the number of immune cells called microglia in the damaged eyes. Interestingly, body weight and overall eye structure (measured by imaging) showed no differences between groups, suggesting the protective effect was specific to nerve cell survival and inflammation reduction rather than general health changes

This research builds on earlier findings showing that some glaucoma patients have antibodies against HSP27, and that injecting this protein into mouse eyes causes glaucoma-like damage. This is the first study to test whether fasting could counteract this damage. The findings align with other research suggesting that intermittent fasting reduces inflammation throughout the body, but applying this to eye disease is novel. The results support growing evidence that controlling inflammation may be important for protecting vision in glaucoma, beyond just lowering eye pressure (the current standard treatment)

This study was conducted only in mice, and mouse biology doesn’t always match human biology. The sample sizes were small (4-7 eyes per group), which limits confidence in the results. The study only tested one type of fasting schedule (24-hour fasts three times weekly) and one cause of glaucoma-like damage (HSP27 injection), so it’s unclear if other fasting patterns or other types of glaucoma would respond similarly. The study didn’t test whether fasting combined with current glaucoma medications would be better than either treatment alone. Finally, the mice were young and healthy except for the injected damage, so results might differ in older people or those with other health conditions

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, intermittent fasting shows promise as a potential additional treatment for glaucoma, but it is NOT yet ready for clinical use. Current confidence level: Low to Moderate (this is early-stage animal research). Anyone with glaucoma should continue their prescribed eye pressure-lowering medications and regular eye exams. If interested in trying intermittent fasting for any reason, consult with both your eye doctor and primary care physician first, as fasting isn’t appropriate for everyone and could interact with medications

This research is most relevant to glaucoma patients and eye doctors looking for new treatment approaches. It may also interest people with autoimmune eye conditions or those studying inflammation and fasting. This research should NOT be used by people to self-treat glaucoma or stop their current medications. People with diabetes, eating disorders, or those taking certain medications should be especially cautious about fasting and must consult doctors first

In this mouse study, protective effects appeared within four weeks. If similar effects occur in humans, benefits would likely take weeks to months to develop. However, this is speculative since human studies haven’t been done yet. Any human trials would need to carefully monitor eye pressure and vision changes over months to years

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Users with glaucoma could track their fasting schedule (dates and duration of fasts) alongside their eye pressure readings from doctor visits and any vision changes they notice. This data could help identify patterns if they discuss fasting with their eye care provider
  • If a user’s doctor approves, they could use the app to schedule and track intermittent fasting sessions (such as 24-hour fasts on specific days each week), set reminders for eating windows, and log any changes in eye symptoms or comfort. The app could also remind them to maintain their regular glaucoma medications and eye doctor appointments
  • Long-term tracking should include: (1) consistency of fasting schedule, (2) eye pressure measurements from regular doctor visits, (3) any changes in vision or eye symptoms, (4) adherence to prescribed glaucoma medications, and (5) overall health markers. Users should share this data with their eye doctor to determine if fasting is helping their specific situation

This research is preliminary animal study data and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent glaucoma in humans. Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that requires professional medical care. Anyone with glaucoma must continue their prescribed treatments and regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist. Before attempting intermittent fasting, especially if you have glaucoma or take medications, consult with both your eye doctor and primary care physician. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results may vary, and fasting is not appropriate for everyone, including pregnant women, people with eating disorders, those with certain medical conditions, and those taking specific medications.