The only proven therapy for glaucoma is lowering of eye pressure. This decrease in eye pressure can achieved with eye drops, laser therapy or surgery. Complementary and alternate therapy for glaucoma has captured the imagination of glaucoma specialists, as well as patients. However, till date, there really is no robust evidence proving efficacy of alternate therapy. Of late, there has been a lot of interest in exercise, and more specifically, yoga, in terms of improving quality of life in glaucoma patients.This article discusses the pros and cons of yoga in glaucoma patients.
Does yoga help glaucoma patients?
Logically, all forms of exercise and mindfulness help you in your general wellbeing. This includes glaucoma patients, and those who do not have glaucoma.
A recent study shows that yoga can actually help lower eye pressure. The Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India has sponsored this study, which was conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. you read the details here.
The researchers found that a 3 week program of meditation and breathing exercises for 60 minutes every morning under a trained yoga instructor, in addition to glaucoma eye drops, helped 75 % of patients. This group had a significantly lower eye pressure (25 %) as compared to those who just continued eye drops.
Even though we usually associate yoga with physical postures and exercises, this study does not focus on those. Instead, the study focuses on breathing exercises and meditation with harmonization of the “mind-body” relationship.
More than anything else, yoga may decrease stress and improve quality of life in glaucoma patients. This alone constitutes a reason to try yoga.
What about the risks of yoga in glaucoma patients?
If you think of yoga as postures and exercises, you must discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor. Postural yoga has been shown to worsen glaucoma, by increasing eye pressures.
Yoga exercises with head-down positions have been associated with a rapid rise in eye pressure in glaucoma and healthy eyes.
Adho Mukha Svanasana, Uttanasana, Halasana and Viparita Karani must be avoided in glaucoma patients. Your doctor will also warn you against Sirsasana (headstand), since it may lead to worsening of your glaucoma.
In addition, experts believe that certain breathing exercises like the Kapalbhati are a modification of the Valsalva maneuver. The Valsalva maneuver involves a forceful attempt to breathe out against a closed airway. In other words, it is closing one’s mouth, pinching one’s nose shut while pressing out as if blowing up a balloon. This increases the eye pressure, especially so in glaucoma patients.
Should I, or should I not, practice yoga if I have glaucoma?
As always, there is no simple, one answer to this question. Here is what you need to know about yoga and glaucoma.
Do not do this
Postural yoga, especially head down postures, increase your eye pressures. This can result in worsening of the disease and increased visual field damage.
Certain breathing exercises like Kapalbhati (read Valsalva maneuver carefully) also increase eye pressures and may worsen glaucoma.
No yoga is a substitute for your glaucoma eye drops. do not stop your anti glaucoma medication unless asked by your doctor.
Try this
Certain breathing exercises, when carried out under the guidance of an expert, may help lower your eye pressures. We still don’t know if this effect is long lasting, and if it helps in the long term.
Choose an instructor who understands that you have glaucoma, and its implications. Discuss the physiology of the disease with him or her before you start.
Mindfulness, or meditation, if done properly, has a positive impact on your quality of life. If practiced regularly, it improves your ability to handle everyday situations as well.
Discuss your exercise and yoga regimen with your doctor, before you start.
You must follow your eye doctor’s instructions about your eye drops even if you are practicing yogic breathing for lowering eye pressure.
