Effect of yoga on intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma

Abstract

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, with an estimated 57.5 million people suffering from glaucoma globally. Treatment of glaucoma focuses on lowering intra-ocular pressure to prevent progression of visual field defects, which is the only proven method for treating this disease. Yoga practices are believed to lower intra-ocular pressure in the eyes and prevent further damage in patients with glaucoma. Therefore, this systematic review was planned to explore the available scientific studies on yoga and intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma patients. PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were the basis for the investigation of the literature. The Jadad Scale was used to assess the quality of included clinical trials, and the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the quality of included case studies. Based on the quality assessment and eligibility, six studies on yoga and intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma patients carried out between 2007 and 2021 were included in the final review. The results showed a reduction in intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma through Jyoti-trataka (gazing steadily on a point or candle flame) and some other slow yogic breathing techniques, whereas studies on inversion Asanas (yoga postures) showed a rapid increase in intra-ocular pressure soon after starting. The three high-quality RCTs included in the meta-analysis showed a greater improvement in intra-ocular pressure in the yoga groups in both eyes than in the control groups; however, there were some limitations related to a small sample size, study quality, a long-term follow-up period, and variations in the yoga practices. Therefore, further studies with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up are needed to overcome the limitations for a better understanding.

The Effect of Yoga on Intraocular Pressure Using the “iCare HOME2” Tonometer

“…While relaxing techniques such as gazing at a flame, breathing, or meditating methods showed a significant reduction in IOP values in healthy and glaucoma individuals [6,7], an acute elevation in IOP, especially during head-down positions, has been observed before [9,16,17]. Although yoga seems to be a popular subject for scientific reports, there is only a small number of studies providing IOP values during yoga poses of glaucoma patients [18]. Between 2007 and 2021, merely one prospective study has been published, showing an acute elevation in IOP of 10 healthy and 10 glaucomatous participants during the same four yoga positions as we have investigated [8].…”

Chemical Insights into Topical Agents in Intraocular Pressure Management: From Glaucoma Etiopathology to Therapeutic Approaches

“…Research endeavors striving to identify such causative factors of NTG have led to the introduction of various theories encompassing heightened cellular and histochemical sensitivity to IOP, local or generalized vascular dysregulation, elevated IOP gradient across the lamina cribrosa, and cerebrospinal circulation impairment [ 39 ]. Recent studies propose that chronic low vascular perfusion, Raynaud’s phenomenon, migraine, nocturnal systemic hypotension, head down yoga, and over-treated systemic hypertension are the main causes of NTG [ 40 , 41 ]. An interesting aspect of NTG is that, despite moderate IOP, its treatment focuses on the reduction in IOP by circa 30% with demonstrated clinical efficacy [ 42 ].…”

From Inner Balance to Visual Health: Unraveling the Therapeutic Role of Yoga in Optic Neuropathy and Ocular Manifestations – Narrative Review

“…In vitro studies have provided further insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying yoga’s effects. [ 43 ] It has been demonstrated that yoga practice reduced oxidative stress markers, improved mitochondrial function, and enhanced cellular viability in retinal cells. These findings collectively suggest that yoga interventions have the potential to improve optic nerve function and health through various mechanisms, including reducing cell death, enhancing blood flow, and mitigating oxidative stress.…”

“…This has been associated with improvements in ocular blood flow, oxygenation, increase in various neurotrophic factors, and nutrient delivery to the optic nerve. [ 22 43 53 ] Yoga is also known to have anti-inflammatory effects, as evidenced by reductions in pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of inflammation in various conditions. [ 22 56 ] Inflammation plays a crucial role in optic neuropathy; yoga causes a decrease in inflammatory cytokines such as IL6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and NF-ƙβ and thus may help mitigate its detrimental effects.…”

“…In another study, the outcomes of combining yoga therapy with pharmacological interventions in individuals with diabetic retinopathy demonstrated that the combination approach resulted in improved visual acuity, reduced macular thickness, and better glycemic control compared to pharmacological treatment alone. [ 43 ] Furthermore, it has been examined that the efficacy of integrating yoga with conventional treatments for various ocular disorders. Furthermore, it has been shown that as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and dry eye syndrome.…”