Lifestyle Modification as Complementary Medicine in Glaucoma Management.

Glaucoma, a multifactorial disease, currently leads the causes of irreversible blindness globally, with complex underlying pathophysiology. For a long time, decreasing intraocular pressure (IOP) has remained the desired primary outcome for each modality of glaucoma management-medical, laser, or surgical. However, the understanding of non-IOP-dependent mechanisms and the identification of additional risk factors affecting optic nerve health have extended the range of preventive and therapeutic options for tackling glaucoma in a more holistic manner. Adopting a healthy lifestyle has been the key to managing all chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular disorders and diabetes, with proven benefits in significantly reducing their incidence and severity. Glaucoma is recognized as a chronic degenerative ailment of the second cranial nerve, and lately, there has been a tremendous upsurge in the subject to evaluate the potential role of lifestyle factors like diet, nutrition, exercises, sleep postures, and smoking in relation to the health of the optic nerve. Existing evidence suggests that some modifications in lifestyle have positive impact in preventing development and retarding its progression, although some findings are conflicting. This write-up aims to furnish a comprehensive overview of the same by analyzing existing evidence and summarizing the repercussions of different lifestyle factors-namely diet and nutritional supplements or exercises-on IOP or the perfusion pressure of the eye, which ultimately leads to retinal ganglion cell loss and optic neuropathy. Knowledge of their putative role as preventive or supportive medicine in glaucoma management can empower both patients and glaucoma specialists in mitigating the agony of the disease affecting the quality of life.

How to cite this article: Saha BC, Kumari R, Onkar A, et al. Lifestyle Modification as Complementary Medicine in Glaucoma Management. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2025;19(1):38-49.