For individuals dealing with glaucoma, forgoing a pillow while sleeping might serve to slow the advancement of their condition. This conclusion stems from researchers who disseminated their findings in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
The scientists determined that sleeping with one’s head elevated, particularly when utilizing multiple pillows, results in an increase in intraocular pressure for the majority of glaucoma sufferers. Over the course of the study, nearly two-thirds of the participants exhibited a distinct rise in this metric specifically while sleeping with pillows in use.
Researchers attribute this phenomenon to modifications in neck posture. An elevated head position has the potential to compress the jugular vein, which impedes the outflow of intraocular fluid, thereby promoting a rise in pressure within the eye. Consequently, this escalates the likelihood of damage to the optic nerve.
The study ultimately involved 144 patients diagnosed with glaucoma. They were instructed to sleep either with two standard pillows, which tilted their heads upward by 20–35 degrees, or completely without any pillow support. Measurements confirmed that the intraocular pressure was substantially greater in the elevated position, while ocular perfusion pressure was lower.
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