Living with glaucoma

Food and drink

Caffeine

Too much caffeine can raise the pressure in your eye. For example, coffee drinkers risk increasing their eye pressures if they drink five or more strong cups each day. Consume caffeine in moderation.

Alcohol

The evidence on the effect of alcohol on eye pressure and glaucoma is low quality and results are mixed. Some laboratory research has found that drinking small amounts of alcohol may lower eye pressure. Other observational studies have found that drinking any alcohol is linked to higher eye pressure. Still others have found no link. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can damage the optic nerve as well as having many other negative effects on health.

Diet

There is no strong evidence about general diet or dietary supplements and glaucoma. Nothing has been identified that will definitely improve your glaucoma, although omega oils (from fish or seeds) have been found to be helpful for general eye health.

Ginkgo biloba extract is a herbal remedy that may improve blood flow, including to the optic nerve. However it can interfere with prescribed medication so it’s important to seek advice from your GP if you’re thinking about taking it. And anyone taking Ginkgo biloba extract should stop taking it before having surgery because it reduces the ability of the blood to clot.

Exercise

Being active is great for general health, so having glaucoma should not stop you from getting daily exercise. But there are a few specific activities that people living with glaucoma should be cautious about.

Yoga is generally safe, but moves that involve the head being lower than the heart for an extended period of time – like headstands or the downward dog position – can increase eye pressure and should be avoided. Research shows any position where the heart is higher than the eyes causes eye pressure to double, though it returns to normal in around five minutes.

Other things that can temporarily raise eye pressure include lifting heavy weights, playing wind instruments, wearing a tight necktie or using swimming goggles. If you go swimming, it’s best to wear larger goggles, because smaller ones press on the orbit of the eye which increases eye pressure. It is even more important to wear larger swimming goggles if you have had eye surgery, especially a trabeculectomy as smaller goggles may press on the bleb. There is no proof that any of these worsen glaucoma.

Other factors

Smoking

Smokers tend to have higher eye pressure than non-smokers. It’s unclear if smoking itself increases the chances of damage to eyes through glaucoma.

If you have dry eye disease, smoking will cause the eyes to sting and feel scratchy, making them water and feel more uncomfortable.

Some eye conditions (for example obstruction of retinal vessels, maculopathy and cataracts) are more common in smokers and occur at an earlier age than in non-smokers.

Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep sometimes feels like something out of our control. But taking steps to ensure you’re getting enough sleep is important to maintain good health generally. Sleeping with your head propped up on a pillow reduces eye pressure but burying your face in a pillow may not be so good. Try to sleep on your back and make sure your head and neck is supported by your pillow.

Travel

People with glaucoma can usually fly on an aeroplane without any problems. But always make sure that you keep your eye drops in your hand luggage, in case you need them during the flight.