Glaucoma is the name of a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. In many forms of glaucoma, the eye pressure (Interocular pressure) is high, which means yoga inversions are problematic as they increase blood flow to the head - increasing pressure in the eye area.
Inversions include asanas like:
Downard-Facing Dog
Standing Forward Bend
Legs Up The Wall
Headstand
Plow
Any position where the head is lower than the heart.
According to The American Academy of Ophthalmology, "In a recent study, glaucoma patients and a cohort of healthy participants performed a series of four inverted yoga positions—downward-facing dog, standing forward bend, plow, and legs-up-the-wall poses. The researchers captured the IOP in each group at five time points: 1) at baseline, while seated, 2) immediately after assuming the pose, 3) two minutes later, while still holding the pose, 4) immediately after performing the pose, in a seated position, and 5) 10 minutes later, after resting in the seated position.
Both groups of participants showed a rise in IOP in all four yoga positions, with the most significant increase of pressure—almost 10 mm Hg—occurring during downward-facing dog. However, after a few minutes of rest, all eye pressures returned to normal.
The two postures that placed the eyes furthest below the heart (downward-facing dog and standing forward bend poses) raised IOP by about 10 mm Hg even though the feet remained on the floor." In contrast, he said, "the two postures that kept the eyes at or only slightly below heart level while lifting the legs, pelvis, or abdomen the most (plow and legs-up-the-wall poses) raised IOP by 4 mm Hg, on average." Knowing this makes selecting and modifying inversions easier based on their likelihood of raising IOP."
In my classes, I always provide alternatives for inversions, or we use props/the wall to achieve the same feelings in the body without lowering the head.
Yoga as a Means of Supporting Glaucoma
As well as appropriate asanas, there are other ways yoga practice can support glaucoma:
Eye exercises
Pranayama (breath work)
Meditation
People with glaucoma who perform yoga should discuss this practice with their treating Optometrist or Ophthalmologist for advice on the potential risks associated with various yoga positions and other exercises that involve inverted poses. It should be noted that an increased rate of glaucoma progression in those practising yoga has not been reported.
Comments