Intraocular Pressure Rise in Subjects with and without Glaucoma during Four Common Yoga Positions

PurposeTo measure changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) in association with yoga exercises with a head-down position.MethodsThe single Center, prospective, observational study included 10 subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma and 10 normal individuals, who performed the yoga exercises of Adho Mukha Svanasana, Uttanasana, Halasana and Viparita Karani for two minutes each. IOP was measured by pneumatonometry at baseline and during and after the exercises.ResultsAll yoga poses were associated with a significant (PConclusionsYoga exercises with head-down positions were associated with a rapid rise in IOP in glaucoma and healthy eyes. IOP returned to baseline values within 2 minutes. Future studies are warranted addressing whether yoga exercise associated IOP changes are associated with similar changes in cerebrospinal fluid pressure and whether they increase the risk of glaucoma progression.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01915680