Nov
18
2010
Regular exercise is key to managing and preventing eye disease. Many with
glaucoma have concerns about their intraocular pressure (eye pressure) and allowing their heads to be below their hearts, as is common in yoga’s common inversion poses. Those you might need to avoid include downward facing dog, head and shoulder stands, and any poses that require you to touch your toes while in a standing position.
Livestrong.com offers this tip for practicing a modified forward bend:
You can still enjoy the benefits of wide-legged forward bend by modifying how you practice it. Place a chair against a wall with the seat facing toward you. Hold your feet wide apart and keep them parallel. Lean slightly forward to keep your hips above your legs rather than behind your heels. Rest your forearms on the chair seat. Breathe deeply for 10 to 15 breaths, feeling an inner thigh and groin stretch and relaxing your back. Certified advanced Iyengar instructor Dean Learner emphasizes that modified forward bends should be part of your regular yoga practice. Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/308442-yoga-poses-for-glaucoma/
Sep
22
2008
Researchers in Italy have released a study indicating that nutritional supplements of bilberry and French maritime pine bark can help reduce intra-ocular pressure (IOP). While several factors contribute to the development of glaucoma, elevated IOP is one of the greatest risks. An improved ocular blood flow may help prevent glaucoma.
Authors of the study from the University of Chieti-Pescara in Italy studied thirty-eight subjects with intraocular hypertension. Twenty subjects were given bilberry and French maritime pine bark; eighteen subjects were not treated. The visual acuity, IOP, and ocular blood flow were measured at two, three, and six months. After two months, the group taking the supplements showed a decrease in the mean IOP. No side effects were observed and ocular blood flow improved.
Having reviewed the results, these researchers believe that food supplements of bilberry and pine bark may represent a safe preventative intervention for lowering the risk of developing glaucoma by supporting a healthier pressure in the eyes.
Read more research on glaucoma
Learn about bilberry and other natural supplements for healthy vision
SOURCE: “Effects of Mirtogenol on ocular blood flow and intraocular hypertension in asymptomatic subjects”, Robert Steigerwalt Jr., et al, Molecular Vision 2008; 14:1288-1292.
Regular exercise is key to managing and preventing eye disease. Many with glaucoma have concerns about their intraocular pressure (eye pressure) and allowing their heads to be below their hearts, as is common in yoga’s common inversion poses. Those you might need to avoid include downward facing dog, head and shoulder stands, and any poses that require you to touch your toes while in a standing position.