Glaucoma is a chronic disease that causes loss of vision and potentially blindness as aresult of optic nerve damage, often due to increased intraocular pressure. Glaucoma iscurrently the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.1 In 2020, 4.1 millionand 3.6 million adults over the age of 50 suffered from mild to severe glaucoma-inducedvisual impairment and blindness, respectively.1 However, these figures are likelyunderestimated since glaucoma can remain asymptomatic until later stages in diseaseprogression.2 The relaxation response evoked by mind-body interventions, such asbreathing exercises and meditation, is known to reduce stress and improve quality of life(QOL). In a recent study, mindfulness-based meditation was found to reduce intraocularpressure and improve QOL in patients with glaucoma.3 A feasibility study will beconducted using a mixed-method design to assess the feasibility of the online delivery ofan intervention titled Breathing Exercises followed by Meditation for potentiallyenhancing the QOL and mental health of glaucoma patients. Upon recruitment, participantswill undergo blocked randomization to either the intervention arm or usual care arm,stratified by sex. Participants in each arm will complete online questionnaires atbaseline and after 12 weeks to collect data on health-related quality of life (HRQOL),depression symptoms, anxiety, and sleep quality using REDCap, an electronic datacapturing system provided by Lawson Health Research Institute (LHRI). Our study can helpto assess the feasibility of conducting a pilot study on breathing exercises followed bymeditation to assess its effects in a sample of patients with glaucoma.
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Behavioral: Breathing Exercises followed by Meditation
Breathing exercises and Meditation taught by Prasanna Wellness, a non-profit
organization, helps dissolve stress and create a proper system in the mind. These
breathing exercises include slow deep breaths and rapid breaths and are followed by
meditation. Meditation is a guided meditation that helps to eliminate stress and
establish an apposite system in the mind, therefore inducing physiological and mental
relaxation whilst the eyes are shut. The proposed duration and frequency of the follow-up
will be 60-minutes weekly for 11 weeks.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria Inclusion Criteria
1. Patients diagnosed with glaucoma.
2. Patients aged 40-65.
3. Being able to provide valid informed consent to participate in the research study.
4. Being able to read and understand English.
5. Having no significant self-reported or physician-diagnosed mental health disorder.
6. Independent access to a computer to participate in virtual sessions.
7. Must be able to sit comfortably for 30-35 minutes without any major pain or
discomfort, can hear well enough to follow verbal instructions when the eyes are
closed, and be in good general physical health.
Exclusion Criteria
1. Inability to provide valid informed consent.
2. Significant communication barriers or lack of English proficiency that prevents
participants from completing the questionnaires.
3. Severe depression as confirmed by a CES-D ≥ 24.
4. Having a lifetime diagnosis of self-reported other serious mental disorders,
including bipolar I or II disorder, primary psychotic disorder (schizophrenia,
schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder).
5. Self-reported substance abuse or dependence within the past 3 months.
6. Having acutely unstable medical illnesses, including delirium or acute
cerebrovascular or cardiovascular events within the last 6 months.
7. Having irreversible vision loss that prevents one from completing the
questionnaires.
8. Participation in a study involving similar techniques.
St. Joseph's Hospital, Ivey Eye Institute
London 6058560, Ontario 6093943, Canada
Investigator: Scott McKinnon
Contact: 519 685-8500
scott.mckinnon@sjhc.london.on.ca
Investigator: Cindy Hutnik, MD
Monali Malvankar, PhD
5192815260 - 61288
monali.malvankar@schulich.uwo.ca
Not Provided