A new Australian study has disclosed that gym exercises, yoga head stands, swimming, or playing a musical instrument may lead to eye diseases like glaucoma and short-sightedness.

Professor Charles McMonnies, from the University of New South Wales School of Optometry and Vision Science, said, “Yoga head stands, weightlifting, sleeping face down, playing instruments like the trumpet and swimming laps are some of the many ways of causing eye pressure spikes.”

“Pressure spikes are fine if you have healthy eyes. But all the people out there with these conditions, and so many others at risk of them, can be negatively affected, and many don’t know it,” Prof McMonnies added.

The researchers examined the effects of eye rubbing and compared the pressure effects with other actions.

McMonnies found that eye rubbing, wiping eye and removing eye make-up increase eye pressure at very high levels.

The combined effects of eye closure and rubbing forces on the eye can raise pressure to very high levels; strong rubbing may raise pressure to 10 times normal levels.

Moreover, people who play a high wind-resistance instrument like a trumpet, oboe, French horn or bassoon, especially on high-pitched notes, can lead to more than two-fold eye pressure.

Wearing goggles while swimming lengths frequently for a long period might have higher risk of eye problem.

Wind-resistance instruments on high pitched notes, can lead more pressure. Weight-lifting also raise the eye pressure.

McMonnies said, “Avoiding sleeping with the eyes in contact with a pillow or sleep mask may help to slow the progression of pressure-sensitive eye diseases.”
 
The paper has been published in the journal Optometry and Vision Science.