High-Pillow Sleeping May Increase Intraocular Pressure - Takeaways - MDSpire

High-Pillow Sleeping May Increase Intraocular Pressure

Researchers link head elevation to greater 24-hour intraocular pressure fluctuation and reduced ocular perfusion pressure in glaucoma.

  • By

  • Kathryn Wighton

  • January 30, 2026

  • 3 min

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  • 1

    Two-thirds of glaucoma patients showed increased intraocular pressure (IOP) when sleeping with their head elevated on two pillows.

  • 2

    The high-pillow position resulted in a mean IOP increase of 1.61 mmHg compared to the supine position.

  • 3

    Ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) was significantly lower in the high-pillow position than in the supine position.

  • 4

    Younger patients and those with primary open-angle glaucoma experienced larger IOP fluctuations in the high-pillow position.

  • 5

    The study highlights the need for further research due to limitations such as variability in head elevation and small sample sizes.

Original Source(s)

High-Pillow Sleeping May Increase Intraocular Pressure

  • by Kathryn Wighton

  • January 30, 2026

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