Sleeping without pillows may help lower high internal eye pressure, the build-up of which causes optic nerve damage and glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide among people with the condition, suggests preliminary research. This fluid nourishes eye tissues without a blood supply, such as the cornea and lens, and helps maintain eye shape and pressure. Internal eye pressure, formally known as intraocular pressure (IOP), fluctuates in response to changes in body posture. When supine, participants’ heads were raised to an elevation of 20–35° using two normal-sized pillows, and IOP was measured again after 10 minutes. Overall, internal eye pressure was significantly higher in the elevated position (17.42 mm Hg versus 16.62 mm Hg), with greater fluctuations observed over the 24 hours.

Source: Nigerian Tribune February 08, 2026 20:43 UTC