Lifestyles guide and glaucoma (i). Sports and activities

The increase in quality and life expectancy, often leads to many patients asking the glaucoma specialist whether some sports, activities or hobbies would affect their illness. The aim of this article is to establish guidelines for patients, based on the scientific evidence of published papers.

Review of all published articles on glaucoma and sports or other activities. The papers were classified according to the level of scientific evidence based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine classification.

Aerobic sports are beneficial for the patient. Yoga indoor sports or relaxation techniques should be avoided if Valsalva manoeuvres are performed or the head is placed very low. Also, the patients must avoid sudden changes in height. Intense heat does not seem to lead to progression of glaucoma, but intense cold can affect patients with vascular dysregulation. Activities using the near vision slightly reduce the intraocular pressure. The use of wind instruments may raise intraocular pressure, depending on the technique used.

Certain sports and activities may have an influence on the onset or progression of glaucoma. Glaucoma specialists should have adequate information about the scientific evidence in the publications, in order to properly advise the patients.