A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OCULAR PRESSURE CHANGES IN YOGIC PRACTITIONERS AND NON- PRACTITIONERS OF YOGA
Abstract
Background: Yoga is a holistic discipline for health promotion and disease prevention. Increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) is an important modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. Ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), a derivative of Blood pressure (BP) and IOP determines the vascular perfusion of ocular tissues. Since there is lack of literature that associates IOP, OPP and Yoga practice, this study was taken up.
Objective: To compare and analyze the effects of yoga on IOP and OPP in adult yoga practitioners and non-practitioners of yoga.
Materials & Methods: The study group included 32 healthy adult yoga practitioners in the age group of 18-25 years, who practiced yoga for one hour per day for minimum duration of 6 months and were recruited from Government Nature Cure and Yoga Medical College. Their yoga practice included stretching exercises, yogasanas followed by Shavasana. Control group included age matched volunteers who do not practice yoga or any other form of regular exercise. After obtaining ethical clearance and informed written consent, the participants were asked to rest for 15 min following which IOP and BP were recorded in sitting position using rebound tonometer and sphygmomanometer, respectively. The collected data was compared between the two groups.
Results: There was a significant fall in IOP of both the eyes in study group when compared to controls and significant difference in OPP was not observed between both the groups.
Conclusion: Regular yoga practice could possibly reduce the effects of modifiable risk factors contributing to glaucoma.
Key words: Blood pressure, Intraocular Pressure, Ocular Perfusion Pressure, Yoga.
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