Tight neckties boost glaucoma risk
Tuesday, 29 July 2003
In today's issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers report that a tight necktie raises blood pressure in the eye, which is a leading risk factor in the illness that can lead to damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision.
"A tight necktie increases IOP [intraocular pressure] in both normal subjects and glaucoma patients and could affect the diagnosis and management of glaucoma," said Dr Robert Ritch of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in the United States.
Ritch and his colleagues tested IOP of 20 healthy men and 20 who suffered from glaucoma while they were wearing an open-neck shirt, before putting on a tight necktie and three minutes after loosening it.
Their results showed that 60% of the men with glaucoma - and 70% of the healthy volunteers - had an increased eye pressure after wearing a tight necktie.
In addition to raising the risk of glaucoma, donning a tight necktie during an eye examination could lead to a false diagnosis of the illness, they said. The researchers suspect that a tight necktie constricts the jugular vein, which increases blood pressure and IOP.
Glaucoma affects about 3% of people by the age of 40, and 5% at 70. Over 300,000 people are estimated to have the condition in Australia, only half of whom have been diagnosed. Optometrists recommend an eye exam every two years, especially if you have a family history of glaucoma, are shortsighted or over the age of 40.