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Effects of emotions on glaucoma

Question:

On Thu, 01 Jul 1999 17:21:55 +0100, "David Wright" <djwri…@tesco.net> wrote: >The role of stress in glaucoma is difficult to establish but anecdotal >evidence from many doctors  suggests that it might well play a role in >glaucoma. As far as we know there are not any clinical papers on the >subject, indeed part of the problem in investigating the relationship of >stress to any condition is that the investigation itself tends to be >somewhat stressful. However, the best advice would be to keep stress levels >as low as possible without raising them again by worrying about it.

If you were to do tests to relate subjective "stress" to ocular hypertension or glaucomatous damage, what parameter would you measure as the independent variable?  Something like the rate of presenting simple problems to be responded to to the subject?  Clearly the variation of any physiological parameters with such neural stress varies a great deal from on person to the next.  And if you just use such an objective physicological parameter as the independent variable, you’re avoiding the issue, since that parameter could’ve changed for any number of other reasons. Ray

Response:

I seem to recall hearing on occasion the role of stress on eye pressure. My doc asked me on my last tonometry if I was under stress. However, after researching the subject I cannot find out anything. Many areas of medicine have acknowleged the role of stress reduction on things such as blood pressure, the immune system, pain sensitivity etc.  What about things like anxiety, insomnia, anger, depression, etc and the effects on eye pressure. Is there any correlation?  Does biofeedback have any effect on reducing eye pressure? If there hasn’t been any research like this there should be! I would appreciate any thoughts on this subject. Thanks. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

On Tue, 06 Jul 1999 16:58:38 GMT, m…@my-deja.com wrote: …………. >I can see that it would be hard to determine or measure subjective >stress. However, studies have been done in the past on high BP using >biofeedback, hypnotherapy, and relaxation techniques.  I realize that >IOP is harder to monitor than BP but wouldn’t it be possible to conduct >similar studies on average IOP using these techniques for subjects that >have good (other) physiological responses to them (i.e. BP, muscle >tension, etc.)?

It’s not clear what your "studies" would be looking for.  Would you be trying to correlate the IOP you’re monitoring to something else? Ray

Response:

The role of stress in glaucoma is difficult to establish but anecdotal evidence from many doctors  suggests that it might well play a role in glaucoma. As far as we know there are not any clinical papers on the subject, indeed part of the problem in investigating the relationship of stress to any condition is that the investigation itself tends to be somewhat stressful. However, the best advice would be to keep stress levels as low as possible without raising them again by worrying about it. David Wright MSAE Chief Executive, International Glaucoma Association While we are pleased to offer the above information, it is not possible for the International Glaucoma Association to advise on an individual patient’s eye condition or treatment as this has to be the role of their own doctor or eye specialist who knows the full details of their particular case. ———- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -In article <7lfuf7$f5…@nnrp1.deja.com>, m…@my-deja.com wrote: >I seem to recall hearing on occasion the role of stress on eye >pressure. My doc asked me on my last tonometry if I was under stress. >However, after researching the subject I cannot find out anything. Many >areas of medicine have acknowleged the role of stress reduction on >things such as blood pressure, the immune system, pain sensitivity >etc.  What about things like anxiety, insomnia, anger, depression, etc >and the effects on eye pressure. Is there any correlation?  Does >biofeedback have any effect on reducing eye pressure? If there hasn’t >been any research like this there should be! I would appreciate any >thoughts on this subject. >Thanks. >Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ >Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

In article <37818fbe.2044…@nntp3.tsoft.net>,   ra…@tsoft.net (Raymond A. Chamberlin) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Thu, 01 Jul 1999 17:21:55 +0100, "David Wright" > <djwri…@tesco.net> wrote: > >The role of stress in glaucoma is difficult to establish but anecdotal > >evidence from many doctors  suggests that it might well play a role in > >glaucoma. As far as we know there are not any clinical papers on the > >subject, indeed part of the problem in investigating the relationship of > >stress to any condition is that the investigation itself tends to be > >somewhat stressful. However, the best advice would be to keep stress levels > >as low as possible without raising them again by worrying about it. > If you were to do tests to relate subjective "stress" to ocular > hypertension or glaucomatous damage, what parameter would you measure > as the independent variable?  Something like the rate of presenting > simple problems to be responded to to the subject?  Clearly the > variation of any physiological parameters with such neural stress > varies a great deal from on person to the next.  And if you just use > such an objective physicological parameter as the independent > variable, you’re avoiding the issue, since that parameter could’ve > changed for any number of other reasons. > Ray

I can see that it would be hard to determine or measure subjective stress. However, studies have been done in the past on high BP using biofeedback, hypnotherapy, and relaxation techniques.  I realize that IOP is harder to monitor than BP but wouldn’t it be possible to conduct similar studies on average IOP using these techniques for subjects that have good (other) physiological responses to them (i.e. BP, muscle tension, etc.)? Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

MBS inquired about the relationship of stress of various sorts, and biofeedback, to eye pressure. I’m not aware of any biofeedback studies, although I haven’t looked for them. There is quite a bit of information about stress and eye pressure, however. Dr. Hans Selye deals with it in his book, The Stress of Life. Nutritionist Adelle Davis (U of Calif. and Columbia U educated) in Let’s Get Well considers it a stress disease. Emanuel Josephson in Medical Treatment of Glaucoma with Cortin sees a connection between stress related adrenal system action and pressure. My own personal conclusion is that it would behove people with eye pressure problems to keep their stress levels as low as possible. Hope this is helpful. (Not a professional reply)

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