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Lifestyle factors can affect IOP
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NEW YORK — Glaucoma patients should be educated about lifestyle factors that can lead to increases or decreases in IOP, according to a physician speaking here.
Studies have shown that practicing head-down yoga positions, wearing tight neckties, playing wind instruments and consuming caffeine can increase IOP, while behaviors such as exercise, moderate alcohol consumption and marijuana use appear to decrease IOP, said Louis R. Pasquale, MD, in a presentation at the New Frontiers in Glaucoma meeting held by Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.
While these factors can affect IOP, they do not seem to cause or reduce the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma, he said.
As an example, Dr. Pasquale described the case of a 56-year-old man with an IOP of 24 mm Hg that suddenly dropped to 20 mm Hg. The patient told Dr. Pasquale that he had started drinking decaffeinated coffee and was wearing his necktie looser. The patient wondered if these changes had been factors in his IOP reduction and whether he should continue with them. Both of these are difficult questions to answer, Dr. Pasquale said.
"We get uncomfortable because we really don't know the answers to these questions. But you may want to talk to patients about these things so they are aware," he said.