Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Intraocular Pressure, Lowers Stress Biomarkers and Modulates Gene Expression in Glaucoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal of glaucoma September 25, 2018 T. Dada, D. Mittal, Kuldeep Mohanty et al.
In a randomized trial of 90 primary open-angle glaucoma patients, 21 days of daily mindfulness meditation lowered intraocular pressure (from about 19 to 13 mm Hg) and improved quality of life compared with a waitlist control. The meditation group also showed reduced stress biomarkers, including cortisol, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and reactive oxygen species, and increased beta-endorphins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and total antioxidant capacity. Gene expression changes correlated with these biomarker shifts. The authors conclude that mindfulness meditation can be recommended as an adjunctive therapy for glaucoma.