Sleeping in a Prone Position can Elevate Intraocular Pressure
Many people are accustomed to sleeping on their stomachs, but ophthalmologists warn that this sleeping style may lead toincreased intraocular pressure, which significantly increases the risk of developing glaucoma. Especially for people with the "three highs" of high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and high blood sugar, their retinal blood vessels are relatively fragile. If they maintain the habit of sleeping on their stomachs for a long time, it will not only easily cause vision damage, but also significantly increase the risk of chronic glaucoma. In severe cases, they may even face the risk of blindness! Doctors particularly emphasize that the process of increased intraocular pressure is usually asymptomatic. By the time the problem of narrowing of the visual range occurs, the best time for intervention has often been missed. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a correct sleeping posture. It is recommended that people always remind themselves to sleep in a supine position and properly support their heads with pillows to avoid direct pressure on the eyes.
Ophthalmologist Qiu Junyuan explained that intraocular pressure (IOP) refers to the pressure inside the eyeball, and its primary function is to maintain the normal shape and function of the eyeball. When the fluid produced inside the eyeball cannot drain smoothly through the "drainage channel" between the cornea and the iris, IOP increases. Under normal physiological conditions, IOP typically remains between 12 and 22 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Once the IOP exceeds 22 mmHg, it is considered elevated.
Dr. Qiu further pointed out that since it is difficult to detect slight changes in intraocular pressure in daily life, most people do not notice them until theyblurred visionGlaucoma is often diagnosed only when symptoms such as glaucoma, eye pain, and even a significant decrease in vision occur. By then, it's often too late to protect your eyesight. He specifically cautioned people with "three highs" to be extra cautious: they are more susceptible to cardiovascular problems. The normal functioning of the eyes depends on an adequate blood supply. Impaired blood circulation in the eyes can directly affect the health of the optic nerve, increasing the likelihood of developing chronic glaucoma.
Discussing the origins of prone sleeping habits, Dr. Qiu mentioned that such habits often develop during childhood. Babies are accustomed to curling up in the womb, and suddenly switching to a supine position after birth can cause fear due to the change in environment. In the past, medical opinion held that allowing babies to sleep on their stomachs could help alleviate their fears. However, subsequent studies have found that prone sleeping may not only increase the risk of sudden unexpected infant death, but also cause damage to eye health. Relevant research data shows that when sleeping on the stomach, the body's intraocular pressure may be approximately 140% higher than normal; if the baby continues to sleep on the stomach for 6 to 8 hours a day, the risk of vision loss will increase significantly.
Dr. Qiu vividly calls glaucoma "Vision Thief", because it will silently and gradually deprive the patient of their vision. Based on this, the medical community recommends that people aged 40 and above should undergo regular eye health examinations. Through professional examinations, doctors can promptly identify people with high risk factors or susceptible to glaucoma and provide early treatment, thereby helping patients reverse the progression of the disease. In terms of glaucoma treatment, clinical practice usually starts with doctor-prescribed eye drops to relieve the symptoms of narrowed visual field; if the condition does not improve after medication, surgical treatment may need to be considered.
Currently, there are four main types of glaucoma surgeries commonly used clinically: laser surgery (such as selective trabeculoplasty), glaucoma implant surgery, open surgery (such as trabeculectomy and catheter implantation), and cryosurgery. Dr. Chiu used trabeculectomy as an example to explain how this procedure creates a small hole in the eyeball, allowing the aqueous humor inside the eye to drain out of the body, thereby relieving intraocular pressure.
As for catheter implantation, a specialized catheter is implanted inside the eyeball, allowing the aqueous humor to drain outward through the catheter. This surgical procedure is primarily used for glaucoma patients whose drainage procedures have been ineffective or whose condition is more complex. Cryosurgery, on the other hand, is often used for patients with advanced glaucoma or those who have undergone multiple glaucoma surgeries but have not been successful. Cryosurgery works by freezing the tissue responsible for aqueous humor production, thereby reducing aqueous humor production and controlling intraocular pressure.
