J Korean Med Assoc.  2017 Dec;60(12):978-982. 10.5124/jkma.2017.60.12.978.

Glaucoma pathogenesis and lifestyle modification

• Jung Y

• KMID: 2397867
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2017.60.12.978

Abstract

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Increased intraocular pressure is the most important risk factor for glaucoma. Lifestyle patterns that can increase intraocular pressure include smoking, caffeine consumption, lifting heavy weights, certain yoga postures, playing wind instruments, using swimming goggles, and certain sleeping positions. Lifestyle patterns that may reduce intraocular pressure include aerobic exercise. Although only limited studies have investigated the relationship between these lifestyle patterns and glaucoma, smoking cessation and aerobic exercise are recommended. For other lifestyle patterns, including caffeine consumption, lifting heavy weights, certain yoga postures, wind instruments, swimming using goggles, and certain sleeping positions, there does not seem to be sufficient evidence to prohibit them, but they should be taken into account in patients with advanced glaucoma.

Keyword

Glaucoma; Lifestyle; Etiology

MeSH Terms

Blindness
Caffeine
Exercise
Eye Protective Devices
Glaucoma*
Humans
Intraocular Pressure
Life Style*
Lifting
Posture
Risk Factors
Smoke
Smoking
Smoking Cessation
Swimming
Weights and Measures
Wind
Yoga
Caffeine
Smoke

Figure

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  Figure 1 Intraocular pressure was elevated in all four yoga positions, especially position 1 (by 11–12 mmHg) and positions 2 (by 8–9 mmHg), but returned to baseline within 2 minutes. Reproduced from Jasien JV, et al. PLoS One 2015;10:e0144505, according to the Creative Commons license [15].

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