Dammit, I have Glaucoma. (Sidenote; I turn 50 next year. My body appears to have decided that now is the time to lose control of every-frigging-thing. Or maybe it’s just the curse of 2020 playing out at personal level.) As is typical of me, I asked no questions at the time so I don’t even know what kind of glaucoma I have but the guy seemed relatively nonchalant so I’m guessing for now that its relatively unadvanced open-angle glaucoma (the less scary kind.) I’ll find out for sure when I return in a couple of weeks.
Anyway, the main thing bothering me is exercise. I like to work out - HIIT-style routines, kettlebells, dumbbells, yoga. I understand that certain yoga inversions are no longer for me but I have also had family members telling me that I need to quit all strenuous exercise (which is all the exercise I do) immediately. I’m not sure what I can and can’t do. Is anyone else in a similar position? Any advice for suitable exercise or stuff which absolutely should be avoided?
Who told you yoga is no longer for you? I have open-angle glaucoma, and my retinal specialist didn’t rule out any forms of exercise for me. In fact, he encouraged it. I’ve lifted weights, run on a treadmill at max incline, done Zumba, swam, hiked mountains, and yes, even did yoga with no issues.
Of course, you should ask your eye doc what’s right for you before attempting any exercise.
Yep, according to Dr Google. Also heavy lifting; I guess anything that provokes red faces and the holding of breath. It was my optometrist sister-in-law who told me to quit all strenuous exercise, but I suspect she meant for the time being, until the first check up happens in a month. nelliebly are there any yoga poses you avoid at all? Your post has given me some hope!
I know I am a sample size of one, but back when I was first found to have a high ocular pressure I had come to my ophthalmologist’s office immediately after working out that morning (which included some lifting). I mentioned that fact to her and she had me come back another day for an OP check.
It was still high, glaucoma was diagnosed. This was maybe 10 years ago and since then I’ve not heard a word from her - or my subsequent glaucoma specialist - against exercise.
I have had Glaucoma for many years. It is easily controlled by daily application of eye drops. I have never been told to avoid strenuous exercise. Speak to your doctor about your concerns at your follow up appointment.
Thanks you all for replies - it’s very reassuring. I was specifically wondering about yoga inversions and heavy lifting but its good to hear that exercise in general should pose no problems. I am profoundly ignorant about glaucoma but I’m learning!
The real key to treating this is to make sure you get to your doctor twice a year to keep after it. I go Monday for an exam and a peripheral vision test.
I haven’t done any yoga for months, but there were no poses I avoided. I should clarify that I’ve never lifted over 25 pounds. No clean-and-jerks here!
Dr. Google is no good for stuff like this, and of course, everyone is different, so take anything here with a grain of salt. Call your eye doc.
I was on glaucoma medication for years, and then after further investigation, they said I had thin lenses/irises/something in my eye that made it appear I had high pressure, but not really. That was good, as I was sick of repeated visual field tests, pressure tests and so forth. (And now apparently they use photos of my eyeballs in a medical school class.)
I’ve got extra-thick corneas which similarly cause high pressure readings - I think I posted about it here. The air-puff test always said “too high”; a followup with the numbing and thing that goes right on the eyeball said “not to worry”.
A couple years back even that was creeping up, so they put me on eye drops before planned cataract surgery. The hope was that the situation would resolve afterward - which it did. The explanation was something about the damaged lens actually preventing drainage of fluid from the eyeball.
As far as exercise: I have never heard of anything like “can’t exercise at all” - since that came from non-qualified family members, well, grain of salt and all that. But it’d be a good idea to avoid anything that involves straining until you talk to the ophthalmologist.
Thanks all - yes, I will try to avoid standing on my head or performing Olympian feats of strength until I see the doctor again. Shouldn’t be too difficult to avoid…
