dave's blog

There are a few interesting comments I can make about today's IOP data. First, the weight-lifting effect is present once again. Second, notice how watching "The Amazing Race" on TV raised my IOP. I can't really explain that, but I have seen the same thing happen so many times that I don't believe it is a coincidence. Watching the news, particularly when there is a lot of bad news, has a similar IOP-raising effect on me.

Today's overall average IOP values are:

Left 16.7; Right 19.4 (differential 2.7)

As little as 5 or 10 minutes of weight lifting gives me a post-exercise effect that results in reduced eye pressure after the workout.

The weight lifting doesn't have to be super intense, but it can't be too easy either. There have been a few studies that have looked at this effect in the past. Here are some (but not all) of the links:

Effects of Different Intensities of Exercise on Intraocular Pressure

The effect of continuous strenuous exercise on intraocular pressure

The effect of exercise on intraocular pressure (pdf)

In my experience, a short weight lifting program often brings my eye pressure down to around 14 or 15 (or less). Sometimes the effect is not very dramatic. For example, if my eye pressure is around 17, the workout might bring it down to 15. Other times, the post workout effect is fairly impressive. Here are some examples:

This has to be one of the most unexpected questions that has come out of collecting all this IOP data: is there a connection between oral care and IOP?

In other words, can brushing your teeth lower your IOP?

My daily average IOP has been higher recently. Prior to starting serious talks about this new business venture, my average IOP values for a given day were often 15-16 for each eye. Today's means were:

Left 17.6; Right 20.8 (differential 3.1; days since Timoptic 1) 

This data represents a departure from prior trends. Within 1 day after Timoptic in my right eye, the IOP differential would normally be around 0.

As usual, the data seem to indicate that not only does stress raise my mean IOP values, it also raises the standard deviation of the measurements.

Our discussions and planning for a new business venture have been getting progressively more intense during the last week. Today represents a peak in that "stress".

Today's IOP values include an interesting exam in the middle of the night (4:15 AM, which is the middle of the night for me). They also include data for 2:36 AM the following morning, when I was awake and working late. I have seen some indication that my IOP can reach the high twenties (or more) in my right eye when laying down or sleeping.

My overall daily averages for today are:

Left 16.1; Right 18.3 (differential 2.2)

Here are today's individual IOP values. Unfortunately, not all the comments are available. This was a typical day where I worked at the computer and took some breaks to play with my dog for about 10 minutes each time. When the original comments are not available (which is not often), I am not going to insert comments after the fact. The data I present is not filter or touched up in any way.

When I started this IOP data collection project, I expected stress management tools like meditation and pranayama (yoga breathing exercises) to lower my IOP. Immediately after starting the project, I was surprised to find that my IOP was much higher after meditation when we measured it. Those initial meditation sessions consisted of several elements, including pranayama. Today I tested a 10 minute session of pranayama alone, without any meditation.

We began using a new tonometer today: the Reichert AT555.

The overall averages for today are:

Left 13.9; Right 20.9 (differential 7.1) 

Here are today's IOP values:

Today we used two different Reichert NCT II (model 12415) non-contact tonometers to collect IOP measurements. This is just early stage data collection. I'll comment once we have more data.

Today was an important stage in the Tour de France. I am very excited for Floyd Landis. Of course, what also interests me at  the moment is whether the excitement of watching the Tour de France has any impact on my IOP. Here are today's numbers. The usual trend I'm seeing is that my IOP is highest in the morning and lowest late at night.

Today's measurements were all taken with the Reichert NCT II. They are all means (averages). For each IOP exam, at each of the 5 times reported in the table below, multiple measurements were taken for each eye. The table below shows 5 IOP values for each eye (for a total of 10 IOP values). These values actually consist of the means of 31 individual IOP measurements. The individual measurements are not shown (in order to make the presentation of the data clearer).

Here are today's IOP values. For a period of time, I will simply work with the experts to understand the process and the instruments. The more interesting things will begin once we have the procedures down pat.

Today is the beginning of my effort to really understand my IOP. You will begin to see daily reports of my IOP values now. I may have to miss some days due to special circumstances, but my plan is to have my IOP measured every day -- usually multiple times per day.

I went to my ophthalmologist today convinced that my IOP would be lower than it was on my last visit. After all, my IOP has been trending downward since my first visit to the ophthalmologist. I assumed all the good nutrition and health practices I have been doing are responsible for this positive trend and I'm still doing all those good things. Furthermore, I have engaged in a much more ambitious program for improving my vision and the health of my eyes these last few months.

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As I mentioned in a prior post, my IOP seems to have been trending downward consistently. The only question in regard to that trend was the last IOP check at an altitude of 8000 feet above sea level. Most of my IOP measurements were done at sea level.

I returned to my ophthalmologist just after the holidays. He prescribed homeopathic phosphorus and some energized water.