glaucoma

How we sleep can raise or lower IOP

Patients with glaucoma often ask what they can do to favorably impact their disease. These patients are eager to engage in beneficial activities and to avoid detrimental activities to save their optic nerve from glaucoma. Unfortunately, most of glaucoma’s known risk factors are not modifiable—such as age, race, and family history. In glaucoma management, there is little credible data supporting any role of nutritional supplements, avoidance of certain exposures such as caffeine or smoking, or alternative interventions such as acupuncture. Doctors’ standard answer is usually to encourage patients to continue using their medications as prescribed and to keep their follow-up appointments faithfully.
Some new research presented at the May 2009 annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., suggests that there may be a new modifiable risk factor within the patient’s ability to control: sleeping position.

Read more: http://www.eyeworld.org/article-sleeping-position-alters-intraocular-pre...

Caveat: this article ignores ocular perfusion pressure. It is quite possible that the conclusions discussed in this article are incorrect. Sleeping with the head elevated may reduce IOP but it may also reduce blood flow to the optic nerve (and brain) and thereby reduce ocular perfusion pressure. It is quite possible that sleeping with the head elevated may do a glaucoma patient more harm than good. But read the article for one perspective.

 Greetings

   Has anyone had the SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty)? 

   If so, would you like to share your experiences and impressions?

   As I understand it, the operation is quick, very safe, repeatable, and effective. It appears to be a huge improvement over the trabeculectomy (trab). Of course, there is no such thing as a "surgical free lunch"; in addition to ridiculously large financial costs, there are invariably side effects, at least potentially. However, there are problems, as well, with the various medications.

I am 51 with no family history of glaucoma and, despite a trabeculectomy and drops, my vision continues to deteriorate even though my IOP is low. It's quite terrifying and I find it hard to talk about to my friends. i would like to hear from others about how they coped with this.

I had a trabecelectomy 3 months ago, 3 stitches were lasered afterwards and
my pressure was low, but not too low..since i lost considerable vision in
that eye, my doctor was satisfied..However, the pressure has gone too low and
he is trying a pressure patch, otherwise, suggests surgery to add another
stitch.. Any input??or similar experiences?? I really dont want another
surgery..