GLAUCOMA AND LIFESTYLE
Avoiding Fluctuations in Pressure
What can you do that might raise your eye pressure and harm your eye?
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Avoid standing on your head!Eye pressure varies with posture. It is higher when we lay face down compared to sitting. This effect is greatly accentuated if we stand on our heads! Studies have looked at the effect of yoga posture on glaucoma. We now recommend people with glaucoma not to subject their eye to the large increase in pressure that occurs with a head down body posture
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Drinking a large volume of water quickly will increase the eye pressure.
This is used as a provocative test to assess the ability of an eye to drain fluid. The person drinks one litre of water over 15 minutes and the eye pressure is measured frequently over the subsequent 90 minutes. Normally the eye pressure elevates by up to 50% but returns to normal by 90 minutes. In the glaucoma eye the pressure rise is much more dramatic and lasts longer because the extra fluid created by the bolus of water cannot drain quickly. To be safe, people with glaucoma are encouraged to consume water in smaller amounts spread throughout the day.
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Eye pressure can rise when we strain such as when exhaling with our mouth shut!This is called the Valsalva manoeuvre. It occurs in activities like straining at stool, and blowing wind instruments. This will cause a temporary but pronounced rise in eye pressure. When undertaken frequently it may significantly stress the optic nerve and accentuate glaucoma damage. |
Diet and Glaucoma
There are no conclusive studies proving a connection between specific foods and glaucoma, but it is reasonable to assume that what you eat and drink and your general health have an effect on the disease.
Good Nutrition
The ideal way to ensure a proper supply of essential vitamins and minerals is by eating a balanced diet.
Caffeine
Some studies have shown that significant caffeine intake over a short time can slightly elevate eye pressure for one to three hours. However, other studies indicate that caffeine has no meaningful impact on pressure. To be safe, people with glaucoma are advised to limit their caffeine intake to moderate levels.
Ginko Biloba
Ginko biloba is a leaf from a Jurassic plant. It does not lower the pressure in the eye. However, there is preliminary research that ginkgo biloba enhances blood flow and reduces vasospasm. The effect of Ginkgo biloba extract as a potential antiglaucoma therapy deserves further investigation.
Bilberry
Bilberry is an extract of the European blueberry. It is most often advertised as an antioxidant eye health supplement that advocates claim can protect and strengthen the capillary walls of the eyes. There is some data indicating that bilberry may improve night vision and recovery time from glare, but there is no evidence that it is effective in the treatment or prevention of glaucoma
Exercise
There is some evidence suggesting that regular exercise can reduce eye pressure on its own, and can also have a positive impact on other glaucoma risk factors including diabetes and high blood pressure.
Regular exercise may be a useful addition to the prevention of visual loss from glaucoma, but only your eye doctor can assess the effects of exercise on your eye pressure. Some forms of glaucoma (such as closed-angle) are not responsive to the effects of exercise, and other forms of glaucoma (for example, pigmentary glaucoma) may actually develop a temporary increase in IOP after vigorous exercise. And remember - exercise cannot replace medications or doctor visits!
Travelling with Glaucoma
Glaucoma need not cramp your style on a cruise or a tropical holiday.
It is imperative that you keep on taking your eye drops. Don’t get too worried about changes of time zones. Occasional variations in the timing of your drops won’t jeopardise your eye health, but skipping drops will.
It is wise to carry a brief summary letter from your ophthalmologist with you when you travel overseas. This provides evidence that the pharmaceuticals you are carrying are for an approved medical condition. The letter will also help if you lose your medications and need to replace them, or in the unlikely event of an eye emergency abroad.
Keep all your personal medication in your carry-on hand luggage in case your checked-in luggage goes astray. With most eye drops it’s a good idea to take spare bottles with you. (See below for advice regarding carrying extra Xalatan, which is a bit different.)
Most eye drops travel well and no special precautions need to be made. Xalatan, however, does not tolerate long periods of heat or sunlight. It is recommended that Xalatan be refrigerated until the bottle is opened, and thereafter stored below 25 degrees Celsius and kept out of direct sunlight. This is quite easily achieved, for example by keeping the drops inside a padded toilet bag. Once you have opened the bottle refrigeration is not required, but the bottle should be discarded after being open for a month.
The relatively minor adjustments in air pressure encountered when flying are not relevant to glaucoma. As for sunny climes, glaucoma patients are no more vulnerable than others to ultraviolet light, but ophthalmologists generally recommend that everyone wears sunglasses when out in the sun.
So if you just keep on keeping on with your glaucoma treatment, the world is yours to see. Bon voyage!
