Impact of Breathing Exercises and Meditation on Reducing Stress and Improving Quality of Life of Glaucoma Patients: An Electronic Pilot Feasibility Study

Impact of Breathing Exercises and Meditation on Reducing Stress and Improving Quality of Life of Glaucoma Patients: An Electronic Pilot Feasibility Study

The goal of this electronic feasibility clinical trial study is to evaluate the effects of breathing and meditation techniques on stress levels in patients with glaucoma.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does breathing and meditation decrease the level of stress in glaucoma patients?
• Does breathing and meditation improve disease specific quality of life in glaucoma patients
• Does breathing and meditation affect the importance that in glaucoma patients place on future consequences? Participants will participate in online session where they will be taught proper breathing and meditation technique to practice. They will also be completing online questionnaires following independent practice sessions over time.

Researchers will compare the breathing and meditation group to the usual care group to see if the outcomes are different.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients diagnosed with glaucoma. Being able to provide valid informed consent to participate in the research study.

Patients aged 40-65. Being able to read and understand English. Having no significant self-reported or physician-diagnosed mental health disorder.

Independent access to a computer to participate in virtual sessions. Must be able to sit comfortably for 30-35 minutes without any major pain or discomfort, can hear well enough to follow verbal instructions when the eyes are closed, and be in good general physical health.

Exclusion Criteria:

Inability to provide valid informed consent. Significant communication barriers or lack of English proficiency that prevents participants from completing the questionnaires.

Having a lifetime diagnosis of self-reported other serious mental disorders, including bipolar I or II disorder, primary psychotic disorder (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder).

Self-reported substance abuse or dependence within the past 3 months. Having acutely unstable medical illnesses, including delirium or acute cerebrovascular or cardiovascular events within the last 6 months.

Having irreversible vision loss that prevents one from completing the questionnaires.

Participation in a study involving similar techniques.