Ocular Hypertension And Yoga Study

Ocular Hypertension And Yoga Study

The investigators aim to pilot test the efficacy of a yoga intervention designed specifically for individuals with ocular hypertension. The investigators would like to find out if a combination of breathing, postures and meditation may help to reduce intraocular pressure in the short term after each yoga session, and also long-term across an 8-week program. Subjects will participate in the yoga intervention sessions led by Dr. Pamela Jeter once a week at the investigators center, and will be asked to practice at home at least twice a week using a audio CD.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18+
• Diagnosis of ocular hypertension not requiring treatment of IOP
• IOP in at least one eye ≥ 21 mm Hg
• Normal Humphrey 24-2 or 30-2 visual fields for both eyes as determined by the patient's glaucoma specialist
• Best-corrected visual acuity better than 20/40 in both eyes
• Being healthy to the extent that participation in yoga therapy would not exacerbate any existing disease conditions;
• Participants do not engage in athletic activity on a regular basis (i.e. are sedentary)
• Able and willing to participate on a weekly basis for the 11-week intervention;
• Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

VISUAL HISTORY

• Any visual field loss in either eye consistently detected with Humphrey Visual Field 30-2 or 24-2
• Inability to understand study procedures or communicate responses to visual stimuli in a consistent manner (cognitive impairment)
• Previous intraocular surgery, except for uncomplicated extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber-intraocular lens implant and no escape of vitreous to the anterior chamber, strabismus, cosmetic eyelid surgery, and radial keratotomy
• Secondary causes of elevated IOP, including ocular and systemic corticosteroid use
• Angle closure glaucoma or anatomically narrow angles-75% of the circumference of the angle must be grade 2 or more by Shaffer criteria
• Pigmentary glaucoma
• Congenital glaucoma
• Other diseases that cause visual field loss or optic disc abnormalities
• Difference in cup-disc ratios (horizontal by contour) between the two eyes of >0.2
• Background diabetic retinopathy, defined as at least 1 microaneurysm seen on ophthalmoscopy with dilated pupil, or any retinal hemorrhage

SPECIFIC SYSTEMIC DISEASES/CONDITIONS

• Abdominal Aneurism
• Cancer, metastatic
• Fibromyalgia, severe
• Inflammatory autoimmune diseases (e.g. Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Scleroderma)
• Other disabling chronic conditions (e.g., disabling heart or lung disease, diabetic neuropathy, receiving treatment for hepatitis)
• A life-threatening or debilitating disease

BACK PROBLEM OF COMPLICATED NATURE, INCLUDING MEDICO-LEGAL ISSUES

• Seeking/receiving compensation/litigation for back pain
• Previous back surgery, ever
• Low back pain that has lasted > 1 month
• Severe pain when bending or twisting spine
• Sciatica
• Discitis or Disk disease
• Fracture of vertebra
• Infectious cause of back pain
• Scoliosis, severe or progressive
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Anklyosing spondylitis

CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ATTEND THE CLASSES OR PRACTICE AT HOME.

• Deafness or severe hearing problems
• Psychoses, major
• Schedules do not permit participation in classes or home practice (including planning to move out of town)
• Paralysis
• Unable to walk two city blocks
• Unable to get up and down from floor
• Lack of transportation
• Any planned surgery during the upcoming study period

CONDITIONS/CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MIGHT CONFOUND TREATMENT EFFECTS OR INTERPRETATION OF DATA

• Pregnant or nursing women as determined by patient self-report
• Use of psychotropic medication
• Consumption of more than three alcoholic beverages per day
• Smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day
• Recent substance abuse

CONDITION WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE FULLY INFORMED CONSENT

• Dementia
• Long or short-term memory loss
• Unable to read or speak English