Yoga Teacher Training Forum

Hi Merleot,

Your intuitive sense is absolutely correct. Practicing inverted yoga postures with a retinal detachment, glaucoma and other eye problems is contraindicated.

As you probably know, a retinal detachment is the separation of the retina, the fragile and thin membrane covering the rear part of your eye, from the optic nerve.

Retinal detachment can create a hole in the retina that allows the vitreous humor fluid to leak. A retinal detachment can be caused by high blood pressure or an air embolus.

When we practice inverted asanas, a large amount of blood flow is directed into the head. As a result this increases the blood pressure on the thin vascular walls of the eyes.

Retinal detachment can be worsened by this large increase in blood flow and pressure during inverted asanas, when the head goes below the heart.

If you do have retinal detachment or other eye health issues, do not perform inverted asanas and do consult your physician about your yoga practice.

Namaste,

Donna