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I've been reading that wedge pillows are good for elevating head whilst lying down and therefore helping with raised IOP during sleep. I was wondering if anyone uses one and has any recommendations before I randomly order one and find out it's useless.
I have been trying to sleep with 2 pillows but I end up with a sore neck so it's not very successful.
Thanks in advance.
I’d be interested too. I’ve heard and read various articles about pillows but I think I remember Trish_GlaucomaUK saying that there isn’t any scientific evidence about it.
Okay thank you, I read so many things and I guess just hope that some do work in lowering pressure. I normally use just one pillow but have been trying two, however it really isn't working for me.I hoped that maybe someone had tried a wedge pillow and had a positive result . There was too much choice and a huge range of prices, I may persevere with two or just go back to one.
Yes exactly- like you say you don’t want to get one & then find you’ve wasted your money (I have a houseful of things like that! 😂)
There are more studies about "Effect of sleeping in a head-up position on intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma " :
I have not used a wedge pillow , but have put an extra pillow and an old blanket under the head of the bed. This is more comfortable for me, as it makes the slope more gentle rather than two pillows.
Thank you muddledme that's a great idea, I will definitely give that a go tonight as I'm not sure my neck can cope with another night on 2 pillows.
Hi, I ordered one from Amazon for my son. He uses it under the mattress and has a very thin pillow under his head.
amazon.de/gp/product/B07XJ2...
Thank you for that and has your son found it has made a difference to his eye pressure. I've already given up yoga too many supine and inclined positions but just trying to do anything that might help.
Witchie, he was diagnosed mid December and had his pressures taken one month after diagnosis. They were not ok, so I ordered the pillow. He's seeing his doctor on Friday this week. So, too early to know yet. But I have read that some doctors recommend wedge pillows. Worth a try, I think.
I agree anything is worth a try. Fingers crossed his pressures are down on Friday then . My pressures didn't come down right away either so I always dread having mine taken , that and field tests are my nightmares.
😂 yes hate the dreaded field tests. I’m claustrophobic & absolutely dread them.
I am truly awful at them and would be even without glaucoma, I actually did better on my last one, no idea how that's possible ? 🥴
I think sometimes it depends on how much you concentrate. I sometimes find that I’ve drifted off thinking about what I’m having for dinner & have missed some of the lights! My consultant says my visual fields are very good which is encouraging. Al this talk about pillows is worrying- I’m a side sleeper but wasn’t sure if it made a difference or not. Trish_GlaucomaUK I wonder if you are able to add anything to this?
I tend to move my eyes around which you obviously aren't meant to do, then frantically press the button thinking I have missed one. My fields aren't great as I have lost peripheral vision in both eyes but mostly the right. I do try not to let my eye touch the pillow when sleeping, easier said than done. I think it's easy just to get obsessed about doing everything wrong
😂yes same after I realise I’ve not been concentrating. My sight loss is weird. When I close my good eye everything just looks darker in the bad eye & slightly faded. Also the edges of everything are sort of blurry and glitchy if that makes sense. When I was diagnosed in October after they put me on drops I wasn’t really aware anything was wrong until I shut my good eye. Now though I think it’s got worse because I am aware of it. My eye feels “lumpy” and my vision isn’t great. I think the pressure has gone up. It’s either that or a side effect of Acetazolomide which i’m on instead of Pilocarpine drops (they were awful). I’m hoping that the op will bring the pressure down & my vision might improve slightly- I know I won’t get any sight loss back. Your appointment is tomorrow isn’t it? Good luck & let us know how you get on.
It's not great that you are actually aware of your vision loss and that your eye now feels odd. I hope your pressures aren't actually up. The consultant you are seeing on Thursday will with luck tell you it is a side effect of your eye drops and prescribe you something you don't react to. Waiting to see the consultant when you are concerned with changes in your eyes is awful, your mind just works overtime and not in a good way. Most people on here have seen a good drop in their eye pressures after trab so let's hope you are one of them.
I actually am not aware of any vision loss at all but I am constantly covered in bruises with banging into furniture and last summer I managed to fall of the seawall and cover myself in bruises !!!
Thank you, yes my appointment is tomorrow afternoon so a restless night's sleep for me .
Witchie346 can you not continue your yoga? I still do pilates which isn’t so different from yoga. I just miss out the head below heart moves or move through them quickly and so not holding those positions or, more importantly, avoid holding my breath. My consultant said if I missed out those positions I could continue as pilates helps slow my breathing, calms and destresses me, keeps me fit and flexible and generally is a calming thing to do which can be good for general health and well-being . 🙂
I did love yoga I found it very calming but there were just too many positions where my head was below my heart. My instructor did know I had glaucoma but I didn't want to be the odd one out who suddenly couldn't do half the positions when previously I had no issues. I live in a small village and the classes were in the local hall and I liked to be in the front of the class so there was no hiding place for me. I still do my yoga breathing and love the ethos but don't feel comfortable at classes now. It's brilliant you do still do Pilates and your consultant is happy for you to continue. I am very active anyway, I walk 10 to 15 miles a day with my dog and workout daily too but just adapt my routine.
Exercise definitely is my happy place and keeps me calm too .
The only positions you have to be careful for in yoga is any position that puts the head below the heart such as the downward dog. If you enjoy your yoga have a word with your instructor and between you come up with a routine where you will get the benefits without the worry of affecting your glaucoma. I have been in contact with a Pilates expert who has advised that as it is a low impact form of exercise there is no concern that it will affect your glaucoma.
Thank Trish I did initially carry on doing yoga but then my consultant asked me to stop as my pressures were just not down low enough. The routines my instructor does are very full on which I loved but just not suitable for me. I know all the positions but I just don't get the feeling of calmness doing just the easier ones.I do workout everyday and walk for miles so I am very active and am much happier and calmer because of it.
Totally understand. I left my pilates class for similar reasons as I was often doing different moves to the rest and after more than 10 years doing advanced pilates I felt a bit frustrated. No ones fault just my own frustration at not doing what I had done before. I now practice at home and have a routine tailored to me and my glaucoma. I’d miss it if I didn’t do it...it solved a back problem so I keep at it. Glad you’ve found other ways to keep healthy. I’m also a walker. I also am walked by my dogs! 😂
You summed it up perfectly it is frustration as I am physically capable of doing the more advanced moves but because of glaucoma I can't. My dog also walks me 😁🐕 .
I use this: amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00...
Need some time to get to use to it, I slide down on it every night. Not easy but I can manage to sleep on side on it
I'm a side sleeper now too and very conscious not to squish eyes into pillow, it's a minefield. Thank you for reply, would you say pillow has made any difference to your eye pressures ?
I don't know how the wedge pillow affects my eye pressure, I just diagnosed in January use eye drops since that day, sleep on the wedge pillow and wear a normal safety glasses for sleep and my eye pressure went down from 24/26 to 20/21. Checked a month ago.
That's positive that your pressures have fallen. Thank you for reply
Hi I have bought 3 memory foam pillows now. I find them really hard. I used to sleep with 1 pillow. I put a wedge of wood under my bed and raised it to the appropriate height. I just use 2 ordinary pillows now.Sleeping on your back is very difficult, I am a side sleeper. I don't know which is worse, the lack of sleep I am getting (I constantly wake up) or sleeping on your side as usual and risk high pressure. The worry is enormous when you suddenly wake up and realise you are on your side..
I read about goggles people are using. However they don't say if they are sleeping on their side with them. I tried sunglasses sleeping on my side (this avoids squishing your eye into the pillow) however wearing any kind of glasses to sleep is uncomfortable. I have not had a good night's sleep since diagnosed in January. I just long to sleep on my side with worry or fear. Valfrance
Thank you, it's memory foam pillows my partner uses but I do find them uncomfortable. I am a side sleeper but I always slept on my front until glaucoma diagnosis. I have tried to sleep on my back but I lie there awake getting crosser and crosser . Lack of sleep is definitely not great so I do sympathise with you waking up constantly. I asked my consultant about sleeping on my side and he had no problem with it. Everything you do that may increase pressure is a worry. I've read about using googles too but I know they are not an option for me. You definitely need a decent night's sleep and everything is worse when newly diagnosed.
Hi glad I'm not the only one.. I think about us all sharing the same problem... i now have netflix on very quietly movie after movie so my mind can concentrate on that and not on my problem with getting to sleep on my back. However when you read the reports done on sleeping on your side, it clearly says that your pressure increases... and that is when the damage can occur. I had to sleep on my back when I had a replacement hip operation, however the hospital gave me an electric bed at home that raised. I am contemplating getting an electric bed in desperation. This makes one very depressed all you want to do is go to sleep as you usually do. it would be interesting to know how many members are sleeping on their backs successfully. thanks for replying valeriefrance
I agree I would like to know how many people do successfully sleep on their back. Lack of sleep is so detrimental to your mental health without a doubt. An electric bed if it works for you would be a good idea as you can't keep going trying to get by with do little sleep. When I sleep on my side I am very conscious of not squishing my eye into the pillow, sleep is meant to be natural and unthinking but obviously not.
Here is an article about safety glasses:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...
There are few pictures about the guy who wears glasses, I use something like that. Another forum member wears swimming mask (not swimming googles) Just be cautious, I tried something like swimming mask with straps, it was sitting my eyelid when I woke up because it slided up while I slept. Check it at the mirror before use, can that push your eye if not stay in place or safe to use
Thank you for that.
Hi, another member advised to raise the bed on a wooden block rather than use pillows,they also advised that there is evidence to suggest that multiple pillows cause pressure on the neck which raises eye pressure. A wedge pillow is not the same as multiple pillows so a better choice. So in conclusion raised bed is best, followed by wedge pillow, multiple pillows not so good. As for which wedge pillow not sure about that but would be good to know. I am currently using my partners one for acid reflux but it doesn't go far enough down my back and is solid so I am also interested in a better version as a raised bed is out of the question as my partner is not wanting to do that.
Thanks yes I can see why pressure on neck would raise eye pressure, which we obviously are trying our best to avoid. A raised bed is not an option for me as my partner is a dreadful sleeper as it is and a change like that isn't going to happen. Wedge pillow definitely seems best alternative, I guess Amazon it is later on today and I will order one.
Hello Witchie346.
If you are lying on your back and are using multiple pillows it may not help in the reduction of IOP. If a persons sleeping position is slightly raised it has been shown to reduce the IOP but only slightly. Some consultants say it is beneficial where others say as the difference is so slight they don't see the benefits. Research is ongoing.
Thank you Trish I find 2 pillows uncomfortable and was considering a wedge pillow but I think I will save my money in that case. I will resume sleeping with one pillow which I find gives me the best nights sleep.
I recently got a foam wedge after dithering about it for some time but its still under review so don’t know if I’d recommend it yet. I will need to go off and see where I bought the wedge from too. I found the foam a bit smelly so may be better out there. I’ve slept with two pillows since my diagnosis, but found one pillow always slipped away and I did wake with a crick in my neck quite often. So I purchased a 20 degree angle foam wedge and put it under my mattress so it wedges up the head end and is a more gentle slope. I can do this as we have two zipped single mattresses on a double bed which ive just left unzipped . Occasionally I slide down the wedge but I think generally it’s better than pillows. I think the best solution is to wedge up the end of the bed with books or similar under the bed legs. The incline gives the desired head above heart position but I would say is better on the neck and back. My hubby’s not keen on the idea though so trying the wedge... for now. 😉
Thanks for your reply, a raised bed is definitely not an option for me and 2 pillows really do hurt my neck. It's looks like the jury is out on a wedge pillow too. My one pillow does elevate my head over my heart just not to a great extent.
Advice on sleep positions with glaucoma 
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Dry eyes through the night 
