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Published on: June 20, 2015
Effects of different sleeping postures on intraocular pressure and ocular perfusion pressure in healthy young
Tae-Eun Lee1, Chungkwon Yoo, Yong Yeon Kim
1Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Sleeping positions significantly impact intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP). Dependent eye positions elevate IOP compared to supine, without altering OPP in healthy young adults.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Physiology
Background:
- Intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) are critical for ocular health.
- Understanding how posture affects these pressures is important for managing glaucoma and other ocular conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of various head and body sleeping positions on IOP and OPP.
- To compare pressure measurements in different recumbent and head-turned positions.
Main Methods:
- Prospective comparative case series involving 20 healthy young Korean subjects.
- IOP and blood pressure were measured in seated and multiple recumbent positions (supine, lateral decubitus, prone with head turn).
- Ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) was calculated, and dependent vs. nondependent eyes were analyzed.
Main Results:
- All recumbent sleeping positions elevated IOP and increased OPP compared to sitting.
- Dependent eyes in lateral decubitus and prone positions showed significantly higher IOP than nondependent eyes.
- IOP in dependent positions was higher than in the supine position, with no significant OPP changes.
Conclusions:
- Sleeping positions elevate IOP and OPP in healthy young individuals compared to sitting.
- Postural changes to lateral decubitus or prone positions increase dependent eye IOP without significantly altering OPP.
- Further research in sleep laboratory conditions is warranted.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of different sleeping positions of head and body on intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) in healthy, young subjects.
Design:
Prospective, comparative case series.
Participants:
Twenty healthy young Korean subjects.
Methods:
We measured IOP and blood pressure (BP) with the subjects seated and recumbent, including supine, right lateral decubitus, left lateral decubitus, prone with right head turn, and prone with left head turn positions. We measured IOP using an Icare tonometer in both eyes 5 minutes after assuming each position in a randomized sequence. We calculated the OPP using the formulas based on the mean BP adjusted for the height of the eye over the heart. The eye on the lower side in the lateral decubitus or prone with head turn position was termed the dependent eye.
Main Outcome Measures:
Difference in IOP and OPP of the dependent and nondependent eyes during changes of sleeping positions of body and head.
Results:
Mean IOP of right and left eyes while sitting was significantly lower than that measured in each recumbent position (all P<0.001). The OPPs in both eyes were significantly higher in all recumbent positions than in a sitting position (all P<0.001). Mean IOP of the dependent eyes was higher than that of the nondependent eyes in the lateral decubitus positions and in the prone positions with head turns (all P<0.001). No significant intereye difference in OPP was found for any position. Among IOPs measured in the recumbent positions, mean IOP of the dependent eye in the lateral decubitus position or in the prone position with head turn was significantly higher than that of the ipsilateral eye in the supine position (all P<0.0001).
Conclusions:
All sleeping positions of head and body resulted in an elevation of IOP and an increase in the calculated OPP compared with the sitting position in healthy, young subjects. The postural change from supine to lateral decubitus or prone with head turn position increased the IOP of the dependent eyes without significant alteration in OPP in healthy awake subjects. Further research is needed under nocturnal conditions in a sleep laboratory.
Financial Disclosures:
The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.
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