Mar
08
2011
In addition to removing a cataract, cataract surgery can also lower eye pressure. Eye pressure or intraocular pressure is often (but not always) associated with the development of glaucoma.
A study presented at the American Glaucoma Society meeting explains how patients who had ocular hypertension before cataracts surgery exhibited a marked decrease in eye pressure after the procedure. Their pressure readings decreased by 18%. They were not taking any medication to lower their eye pressure. Source: OSN Super Site
It is possible to avoid what has become the most common surgery in the US – cataract removal – through a combination of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Learn more about how to prevent cataracts naturally. Fighting free radicals by boosting you antioxidant intake is a great place to start.
You can also learn more about how to prevent glaucoma by reading up on other studies on our glaucoma research pages.
Feb
28
2011
A new super small computer could be implanted in the eyes of a glaucoma patient to make constant eye pressure measurements.
The device is just a a cubic millimeter in size and is something of a technological marvel – scientists made many discoveries regarding powering such a tiny machine.
The focus of this MIT Technology Review article was on the technical aspects of creating such a device. This implanted sensor is focused purely on measuring glaucoma’s progress based on fluctuations in intraocular pressure. New research shows that individuals can have glaucoma without experiencing increased eye pressure and that elevated eye pressure does not necessarily mean that one will develop the condition.
People who run a higher risk of developing glaucoma include those who experience high levels of stress, have glaucoma in their families, have trouble absorbing nutrients from food, and who are obese. Learn more about glaucoma risk factors.
Learn about alternative and complementary treatments for glaucoma at our website.
Feb
06
2011
Glaucoma can be associated with increased pressure in the eyes (though not always – one can have glaucoma without elevated intraocular pressure and vice versa).
A team of Scottish and German scientists have found that people who play brass and woodwind instruments can experience elevated eye pressure, a condition that these scientists do link to glaucoma.
Previous studies have found that high-resistance instruments such as the oboe were linked to increased eye pressure, but this is the first to note that lower-resistance instruments like the clarinet can also be linked to the potentially dangerous spike in pressure. The study included 52 professional musicians playing in real life conditions. The highest increases in pressure were noted in brass musicians when they played loud, high notes. Source: http://www.gcu.ac.uk/sls/newsevents/news/bydate/2011/1/name,20760,en.html
For complementary treatment options for glaucoma, visit our website.
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/
Nov
12
2010
image via womenshealth.gov
Glaucoma is caused by a number of factors, but one of the most well known is increased intraocular pressure. A new study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology describes how a condition called corneal arcus, a condition in which a ring of lipids builds up around the cornea, may be responsible for increases in eye pressure.
Corneal arcus is associated with cardiovascular disease. Researchers can not explain why corneal arcus increases eye pressure, but say “There may be changes in biomechanical properties of the cornea in eyes with corneal arcus, as such mechanisms are emerging as important clinical variables that may affect intraocular pressure measurements.”
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-11/jaaj-ccc110510.php
Learn more about how to prevent and treat glaucoma naturally at our website.
Oct
15
2010
Image courtesy of dmr.nd.gov
Intraocular pressure (IOP or “eye pressure”) gets the majority of the blame for cases of
glaucoma, but studies have shown that more and more people are developing normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and that progressive damage can occur even with IOP-lowering intervention.
Studies of the ginkgo biloba have shown that the herb can improve blood flow at a tissue level. Ginkgo biloba does not seem to affect intraocular pressure, blood pressure, or heart rate, but it has been shown to improve pre-existing visual field damage in some individuals suffering from glaucoma.
Sources: http://www.naturaleyecare.com/study.asp?s_num=212 and http://www.naturaleyecare.com/study.asp?s_num=211.
For more research on glaucoma, visit our research index page.
And, since you might not have a ginkgo tree in your back yard, here’s a good source of ginkgo biloba for eye health.
Oct
11
2010
image courtesy of fas.usda.gov
It’s common to hear that you should get plenty of vitamin C if you are fighting a cold, but have you heard that you should increase your vitamin C intake to ward off glaucoma?
In parts of Europe and Asia, vitamin C is considered part of routine treatment for glaucoma. It lowers eye pressure by both decreasing fluid production in the eye and improving the outflow of aqueous humor from the eye. It also improves collagen metabolism which may be one of the underlying reasons for the development of glaucoma.
In addition to eating your citrus fruits, also add red peppers and tomatoes to your diet.
Click here for more tips on how to prevent glaucoma naturally.
For more research on glaucoma prevention and treatment, visit our website.
Aug
15
2010
Weightlifting, especially if one holds his or her breath during the exercise, may cause a temporary increase in pressure within the eyes. Glaucoma is sometimes linked to increased pressure in the vitreous humor of the eye.
Generally, intraocular pressure generally decreases after both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Higher intraocular pressure has been reported during the Valsalva maneuver (air is forced against a closed windpipe causing an increase of pressure in the chest). This action occurs during coughing, vomiting, playing wind instruments, as well as during some weightlifting sessions.
According to ScienceDaily.com, study authors note that a certain type of glaucoma (normal-tension glaucoma) is more common in individuals who are subjected to frequent changes in eye pressure. “Prolonged weightlifting could be a potential risk factor for the development or progression of glaucoma. Intermittent intraocular pressure increases during weightlifting should be suspected in patients with normal-tension glaucoma who perform such exercises,” they conclude. “Patients with normal-tension glaucoma should be questioned as to a history of regular weightlifting.”
Learn more about glaucoma’s causes and how to prevent it at our website.
Jul
06
2010
A recent study out of the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto New indicates that glaucoma patients can reduce intraocular pressure by sleeping with their head elevated at a 30-degree angle as opposed to sleeping with their heads flat on a mattress. Study participants exhibited no differences in blood pressure or ocular perfusion pressure between the two positions. (Published in Ophthalmology 2010 Feb 24.)
Technically, glaucoma is due to damage to the optic nerve, sometimes as a result of increased pressure of the aqueous humor, the clear, watery fluid that circulates in the chamber of the eye between the cornea and the lens. But the term glaucoma is now defined as a collection of diseases that causes optic nerve damage. As a result, the diagnosis is no longer solely based on whether a person’s intraocular pressure (IOL) is elevated or not.
For more about glaucoma causes, symptoms, and remedies, please visit our website.
May
25
2009
Researchers at the University of Western Australia recently examined the effects of wearing swimming goggles upon intraocular pressure (IOP).
In this study, holes were drilled into the faces of 13 different goggles to allow IOP measurement by applanation tonometry. IOP was measured before goggles wear, two minutes after goggles application, twenty minutes after goggles application, and after goggles removal. Multiple types of goggles were tested.
IOP increased while wearing goggles by a mean pressure of 4.5 mm Hg with this pressure rise being sustained for the duration of goggles wear. Swim goggles with a smaller face area were consistently associated with greater IOP elevation.
Although these measurements were not taken while swimming, study authors suggest that some swimming goggles can elevate IOP. The full article can be read in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
Learn more about natural eye care at www.naturaleyecare.com
NaturalEyeCare™ provides a practical approach to keeping your eyes healthy, emphasizing prevention rather than cure, based on the latest scientific research.
SOURCE: “Wearing swimming goggles can elevate intraocular pressure”, Morgan, et al, Br J Ophthalmol. 2008 Sep;92(9):1218-21.
