In the Summer issue of Eye to Eye, the patient in Living with Glaucoma mentioned that eye massage had help- ed lower her intraocular pressure and improve her sight. Digital ocular massage is a technique which is performed only with the permission and supervision of your ophthalmologist. Instruction, monitoring, and follow up with your doctor are crucial.
Ocular massage is only helpful in patients who have undergone glaucoma filtration surgery.
The aqueous humor bypasses the eye s poorly functioning trabecular meshwork and the IOP decreases. After trabeculectomy, scarring and adhesions within or around the drainage route may form. When the filter s function is reduced in this way, your ophthalmologist may try a technique called digital ocular massage. Digital ocular massage works by temporarily increasing the pressure inside the eye, thereby forcing additional aqueous fluid through the partially obstructed drainage site. This brief rise in IOP forces aqueous through the new surgical drain.