People over the age of 60 who wear swimming goggles could be putting their eyesight at risk, an Italian scientist said Thursday.
Beatrice Brogliatti at Turin University's eye clinic said the pressure that builds up on the eyeball under the goggles is a direct risk factor for glaucoma, a serious degenerative disease of the optic nerve that leads to blindness.
Over-60s who tie their ties too tightly or attempt complicated yoga positions with their heads pointing towards the floor are also at risk, Brogliatti warned.
''In those cases compression is created at neck level as well as a pooling of blood and liquids which again expose the elderly to the risk of glaucoma,'' she said.
Brogliatti advised over-60s to have their eyes checked by a doctor for early signs of the disease.
''Glaucoma is a silent ghost which affects 2% of the population and doesn't have any symptoms in the initial phase of the illness,'' she said.
''It's often discovered too late, when it is no longer possible to cure it but only prevent it getting worse''.
