I've read several articles saying that sleeping with a wedge at 30° will keep intraocular pressure from rising at night, and other articles saying sleeping on the same side as your worst will increase the pressure in that eye. Both my ophthalmologist and my optometrist said they hadn't heard of this.
I, and many people on here, do prop up the end of their bed to raise it. Many glaucoma consultants do not believe it makes any difference but mine said it won’t do any harm.
I think most consultants want their patients to diligently do what they proscribe, so take eye drops, as directed and have any operations done that they believe help. What consultants don’t want is anyone thinking that simply raising your bed or taking certain vitamins for instance etc has any benefit on in their own in controlling glaucoma. Drops and operations are required.
I have suspected normal tension glaucoma with suspected IOP pressure dips at night. Initially I did not respond to the standard treatment for primary open angle glaucoma which was frightening, so I tried anything else to make a change including raising bed head. My pressures eventually stabilised, most likely helped by two rounds of SLT, but my consultant said “Don’t change anything you are doing as it’s working so let’s not change anything!” so I continue with bed raised. I suspect it didn’t help, but as it doesn’t do any harm, I continue.
I can't believe the eye specialists haven't heard of it. Perhaps what they mean is they haven't seen it in their practice. I wonder if, in the absence of eye drops, it would make a difference. But eye drops are so effective that any difference in sleeping position is outweighed by them.
Anecdotally it's my right eye that's affected and I've been sleeping on my left side all my life!
I also wonder whether the specialists would debunk the other 'advice' that research suggests - don't do headstands and upside down yoga poses, don't lift weights, don't play high pressure wind instruments like trumpets and oboes.
I have spent my working life around medical research. So when I was first diagnosed and became suspicious that the prescribed drops were causing the severe nose bleeds that sent me to A&E I went looking. I found a recent paper that did indeed show such a link. My consultant rather than dismiss my concern read the paper and was very interested. She found others means of treatment and I am extremely grateful that she was open to the suggestion and willing to change treatment. I truly believe we have to be advocates for our health and speak up when necessary. This was a peer reviewed medical article she had not yet had time to read.
It's an interesting area regarding sleeping positions, nothing is clear. I researched those articles too, trying to stick to seemingly reputable websites, and found enough in them to purchase a wedge pillow. I find I do sleep better in a raised position but also find I have reverted to side sleeping when I wake! I've no idea whether any of this helps with my raised pressures, which have been better since SLT (no drops for now) so I will continue believing all is ok until it's not. I don't think it does any harm to do some research and make an informed choice as there is little info given out by the hospital, they're too busy, but it seems, ultimately, we have a condition that is short on knowledge apart from take the drops, have the surgery and don't go upside down for too long.
It is interesting that many specialist seem to either not know or not want to know about this research, still I don't think it will harm to try pillow wedges or raised beds, that's only my opinion though!
My consultant always sleep the way you feel comfortable, and be it that with one or two pillows or something like a wedge if helps you use it. I don't know whether my pressures go up anyway because my gluacoma is silent, it is known as the silent disease for some suffers. Sleeping comfortably is all that matters for you. Best wishes
Thank you for all the research articles. I agree there will always be contradictory articles perhaps because we are all very different.
My optomitrist is always interested in research articles and will discuss them. Sadly probably because of the huge waiting lists the consultants rarely feel they have time to discuss these issues.
Once as my glaucoma advanced the consultant did advise an extra pillow , a warning about unsuitable head down Yoga positions and not to use wind instruments. I think he thought I must be doing something silly !
Several times I have found that doing my own research and joining self help groups has been extremely important.
I have self diagnosed ---Lyme disease and received early treatment. Also twice diagnosed incorrectly ,told I had Fibromyalgia but a self help goup suggested seeing a rheumatologist and I slowly recovered from Drug induced Lupus. Then treated for Giant cell Arteritis and given high dose steroids which probably caused sudden deterioration in the glaucoma. Thanks to google I tried wearing a mouth guard at night as I tend to grind my teeth.....end of symptoms and as a bonus no dental treatment for years.
So although I am very grateful to the NHS especially as they work against all the odds, I agree that we need to do all we can to consider our contribution and responsibility as patients and keep an open mind about research . Luckily the Glaucoma UK magazine "Insight" and all the webinars, the helpline plus this forum are such a benefit.
I do take my eyedrops faithfully, but of course I want to do the most I can to keep the glaucoma from progressing So I looked into sleeping positions.
You all have encouraged me to go back to my doctor and ask her if she would be willing to read one or more of these studies, all of which except one are from reputable academic websites.
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