Intraocular Pressure Changes Associated with Muslim Prayer Postural Changes

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Intraocular Pressure Changes Associated
withMuslim Prayer Postural Changes
G. Ryan Berger MD, Douglas L. MacKenzie MD, Malik
Y. Kahook MDRocky Mountain Lions Eye
InstituteUniversity of Colorado at Denver
Health Sciences CenterAurora, CO 80045
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Financial Disclosure

• None of the authors have financial relationships
  relevant to the subject discussed

Intraocular Pressure Changes Associated with
Muslim Prayer Postural Changes
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Introduction

• Practicing Muslims assume various positions
  during daily prayer
• Each of the five daily prayers take from five to
  ten minutes, and additional prayers are performed
  during important religious times of the year
• In this study we investigate the effect of
  positional changes during traditional Muslim
  prayer on intraocular pressure (IOP) in normal
  patients

Intraocular Pressure Changes Associated with
Muslim Prayer Postural Changes
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Participants

• Twenty-one consecutive patients with no
  historical or clinical evidence of intraocular
  pathology other than cataracts

Methods

• Tonopen applanation was performed as part of the
  routine eye exam and in each of the three basic
  positions (standing, bowing, and kneeling) of
  Muslim prayer
• Analysis of variance and paired students t-test
  were utilized to compare IOP between positions

Intraocular Pressure Changes Associated with
Muslim Prayer Postural Changes
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Results
Intraocular Pressure Changes Associated with
Muslim Prayer Postural Changes
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Results

• Bowing and kneeling led to significant increases
  in IOP compared to that measured while seated
• The mean IOP while bowing (19.47 /-1.95 mm Hg)
  was greater than while seated (14.65 /-3.12 mm
  Hg, plt0.0001)
• Kneeling resulted in the greatest increase in
  mean IOP (23.26 /- 2.49 mm Hg), and the change
  was statistically significant (plt0.0001) when
  compared to both seated and bowing positions
• The increase in IOP while kneeling ranged between
  4 and 16 mm Hg (Mean 8.85 /-3.73 mm Hg) for all
  those tested

Intraocular Pressure Changes Associated with
Muslim Prayer Postural Changes
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Discussion

• Dependent positions, such as those encountered
  during yoga and other exercises, are known to
  result in increased IOP
• Muslim prayer requires individuals to bow and
  kneel five times each day and appears to be
  associated with IOP fluctuations
• Those unable to assume prayer positions safely
  are allowed to pray from a seated position

Intraocular Pressure Changes Associated with
Muslim Prayer Postural Changes
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Conclusion

• Muslim prayer positions appears to be associated
  with significant fluctuations in IOP
• Further studies are needed to better understand
  the implications of repeated IOP fluctuations
  during positional changes associated with Muslim
  prayer, particularly in those who suffer from
  glaucoma

Intraocular Pressure Changes Associated with
Muslim Prayer Postural Changes
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References

• Baskaran M, Raman K, Ramani KK, et al.
  Intraocular pressure changes and ocular biometry
  during Sirsasana (headstand posture) in yoga
  practitioners. Ophthalmology. 2006
  Aug113(8)1327-32
• Chiquet C, Custaud MA, Le Traon AP, et al.
  Changes in intraocular pressure during prolonged
  (7-day) head-down tilt bedrest. J Glaucoma. 2003
  Jun12(3)20408

Intraocular Pressure Changes Associated with
Muslim Prayer Postural Changes