Lifestyle choices an important topic to discuss with glaucoma patients

James C. Tsai

PARIS — The relationship between lifestyle choices and glaucoma is an important topic that deserves further investigation and additional chair time with patients, according to a specialist here.

“Patients want to know, because they are keen on finding ways of fighting the disease besides medications. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is good for them in many ways, including the positive feeling of having a better control over the disease,” James C. Tsai, MD, said at the World Glaucoma Congress.

Knowing more about the impact of lifestyle choices on glaucoma may also help develop effective public health strategies and offer new insights on causative factors.

“What we know for sure is that total body inversion like head-down yoga positions, tight neckties, playing high-resistance wind instruments, caffeine consumption and probably stress are causes of raised IOP. Conversely, aerobic exercise and a healthy diet with moderate alcohol consumption, particularly red wine, help lowering IOP,” Dr. Tsai said.

The role of supplements such as ginkgo biloba, antioxidants and estradiol is not yet clear, but they may play a role in neuroprotection and in improving ocular hemodynamics.

Disclosures: Dr. Tsai has no relevant financial disclosures.