Effect of yoga-based interventions on intraocular pressure: A narrative review

Abstract

Chronic increase of intraocular pressure (IOP) is highly associated with the development of retinal ganglion cell death and exists as a primary risk factor for various eye disorders, including glaucoma, which is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. In recent years, an increased interest in using complementary and alternative therapies such as yoga has been seen for the treatment of glaucoma. This review is aimed at evaluating and understanding the studies on yoga-based exercises on IOP. Three databases, i.e. PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched, and 10 articles were included that met the criteria for inclusion. These studies involved different yoga-based practices such as trataka and eye movements, breathing exercises or pranayama, yoga postures, and meditation. The studies suggested that yoga practices were able to influence IOP levels in both healthy and clinical populations. Yoga postures were associated with an increase in IOP levels, whereas other yoga practices, i.e. eye exercises, pranayama, and meditation, reduced the IOP levels. Yoga-based eye exercises, such as palming, trataka, and eye movement and relaxation, appeared to have the most persistent effects. Yoga practices could decrease IOP levels; however, yoga postures should be contraindicated with patients with glaucoma and higher IOP levels.