Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction in IOP Management

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) may be a potential approach in IOP management, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT).

Study Design

Parallel arm, single masked, randomized controlled trial. Sixty patients of ocular hypertension, with IOP >21 and <30 mmHg were recruited at a tertiary eye care centre in India. Thirty patients (group 1) underwent 6 weeks of one hour daily MBSR session while the other 30 patients (group 2) were waitlisted and kept on follow-up.

Outcomes

• Primary outcome was change in IOP (ΔIOP) after 6 weeks of MBSR.
• Secondary outcomes were effect on serum cortisol level, diurnal variation of IOP, vessel perfusion and vessel density on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and quality of life (QOL).

Results

The results of the study are:

• At 6 weeks, a significant decrease in IOP was noted in group 1 (23.05 ±1.17 to 19.15±1.45 mmHg, p=0.001) compared to group 2 (22.55 ± 0.98mm Hg to 22.37 ± 1.07 mmHg, p=0.107).
• ΔIOP was significantly greater in group 1 (3.93±1.47) than group 2 (0.17±0.58; p=0.001).
• The diurnal fluctuation of IOP decreased in group 1 (4.87 ± 1.13 mm Hg to 2.73 ± 0.98 mmHg, p=0.001) as compared to group 2 (4.50 ± 0.86 mm Hg to 4.30 ± 0.83 mm Hg, p=0.227).
• Significant improvement in vessel perfusion, vessel density and flux index was noted on OCTA in group 1 as compared to group 2.
• Group 1 showed a significant decrease (p=<0.001) in serum cortisol level and an improved QOL (p=0.001).

Thus, MBSR was associated with a significant decrease in IOP and serum cortisol along with an improvement in optic nerve head perfusion and QOL. MBSR can be considered as a potential treatment option in the management of OHT.

Reference

Effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on IOP in patients with ocular hypertension: A randomized control trial by Tanuj Dada et al. published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Read the full study