Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the fluids in your eye do not drain normally, thus causing eye pressure, called intraocular pressure, to rise. When your interocular pressure becomes elevated, you risk damaging your optic nerve, which could lead to permanent vision loss. Exercise has been found to be a natural treatment, usually in combination with medicines, to lower your eye pressure. Discuss your desire to lower your IOP with exercise with your medical care providers, especially if you do not work out regularly.
Step 1
Choose a form of aerobic exercise to lower your eye pressure. An aerobic exercise is an activity that elevates your heart rate. Walking, jogging, jumping rope, playing basketball or soccer and biking are all examples of aerobic exercises. The Eye Digest, a publication of the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, reports that raising your heart rate by just 20 percent could lower your eye pressure.
Step 2
Commit to your preferred form of exercise in order to reap the benefits of a lowered IOP. The Glaucoma Research Foundation found that people who exercised for at least three months experienced lower eye pressure. You may not experience positive results by just walking for a week or so. The Eye Digest suggests participating in 20 minutes of exercise at least four days a week.
Step 3
Discuss your workouts with your doctor if you participate in yoga or another activity or sport that requires you to remain in a head-down position for significant periods of time. A head-down position may put undue pressure on your optic nerve, and may cause a change in IOP, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.
