If you have high intraocular pressure, or eye pressure, you may have glaucoma, which is one of the most common eye disorders seen in ophthalmology practices. There are two types of glaucoma. The most common is open-angle glaucoma, and while it causes elevated eye pressure and peripheral vision problems, it usually doesn't cause any other symptoms. Conversely, closed-angle glaucoma, also known as acute-angle glaucoma can cause severe eye pain, redness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. If you have either type of glaucoma, your eye doctor may recommend avoiding the following things.

Prolonged Bending

While aerobic exercise can help lower intraocular pressure, doing other exercises where your head is lower than the level of your heart may raise it. Be sure to talk to your eye doctor before you take a yoga class or before lifting weights.

These activities can increase eye pressure and may be especially dangerous for people who have closed-angle glaucoma. Handstands or headstands are also not recommended if you have glaucoma, and certain household chores should be avoided as well if they involve stooping over, bending down, or overexerting yourself. If you have questions about how lifestyle choices, exercising, or other activities might affect your intraocular pressure, call your eye doctor.

Excessive Caffeine Intake

Drinking small amounts of coffee or other caffeinated beverages may raise your intraocular pressure temporarily. While drinking caffeinated beverages in moderation may be acceptable, drinking large amounts of caffeine may significantly raise your eye pressure and worsen your condition.

It is also thought that consuming large amounts of caffeine may even heighten your risk of developing glaucoma. In addition to watching your coffee, tea, and cola intake, your eye doctor may also recommend that you avoid eating large amounts of dark chocolate. While dark chocolate is a rich source of antioxidants, it contains moderate amounts of caffeine, which may worsen your symptoms of glaucoma.

If you have elevated intraocular pressure as a result of glaucoma, see your eye doctor on a regular basis for checkups. If your eye pressure is high, your doctor may prescribe beta-blocker eye drops to help manage your condition. If the drops fail to bring down your eye pressure, your doctor may recommend laser surgery, which may be more effective. Laser surgery may also be the treatment of choice for your glaucoma if you develop side effects from your beta-blocker eye drops such as low blood pressure, dizziness, lightheadedness, or severe headaches.

For more information, contact a ophthalmology service like Idaho Eye and Laser center.

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