• My Dashboard My Education Find an Ophthalmologist
  • Home
  • For Ophthalmologists
    • Meetings
      • AAO 2021
        • Meeting Information
          • Past and Future Meetings
          • Contact Information
          • Virtual Meeting Guide
          • Policies and Disclaimers
        • Program
          • Program Search
          • Program Highlights
          • Program Committees
          • CME
          • Meeting Archives
        • Expo
        • Registration
        • Hotels & Travel
          • Hotel Reservation Information
          • New Orleans
          • International Attendees
          • Hotel Meeting Space
        • Presenter Central
          • Presenter Central
          • Abstract Selection Process
          • Submission Policies
          • Subject Classification/Topics
          • Instruction Courses and Skills Transfer Labs
          • Papers and Posters
          • Videos
          • Grand Rounds Symposium
          • Program Participant and Faculty Guidelines
          • Faculty Development Program
        • Exhibitors
          • Exhibitor Central
          • Exhibitor Portal Information
          • New Exhibiting Companies
          • Exhibitor Resources
      • Mid-Year Forum
        • Registration and Travel
        • Congressional Advocacy Day
        • Advocacy Ambassador Program
        • Program
        • Schedule
        • Sponsored Attendees
        • News
      • Ophthalmology Business Summit
      • Codequest
        • Codequest Instructors
        • Claim Codequest CME or CEU Credit
      • Eyecelerator
    • Clinical Education
      • COVID-19
      • Education
        • Browse All Education
        • Courses
        • Cases
        • Learning Plans
        • Interactive
        • Focal Points
        • Wills Eye Manual
        • Disease Reviews
        • Clinical Webinars
        • Diagnose This
        • Self-Assessments
        • Educational Centers
          • Glaucoma Education Center
          • Pediatric Ophthalmology Education Center
          • Laser Surgery Education Center
          • Myopia Resources
          • Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Center
          • Redmond Ethics Center
      • Journals
      • Guidelines
        • Browse All Practice Guidelines
        • Preferred Practice Patterns
        • Clinical Statements
        • Compendium Guidelines
        • Complementary Therapy Assessments
        • Medical Information Technology
        • Ophthalmic Technology Assessments
        • Patient Safety Statements
        • Choosing Wisely
        • Low Vision
        • Eye Care for Older Adults
        • Eye Disease Statistics
        • About the Hoskins Center
      • Multimedia Library
        • Browse All Videos and Audio
        • Clinical and Surgical Videos
        • Presentations and Lectures
        • 1-Minute Videos
        • Master Class Videos
        • Basic Skills Videos
        • Interviews
        • Audio and Podcasts
        • Images
        • Submit an Image
        • Submit a Video
      • News
        • Browse All Clinical News
        • Editors' Choice
        • Headlines
        • Current Insight
      • CME Central
        • Browse All CME Activities
        • Claim CME Credit and View Transcript
        • CME Planning Resources
        • Complete Your Financial Disclosure
        • Joint Sponsorship Portal
        • LEO Continuing Education Recognition Award
        • Safe ER/LA Opioid Prescribing
        • Check Your Industry Payment Records
      • MOC
      • Resident Education
        • All Resident Education
        • OKAP and Board Exam Resources
          • OKAP Exam
          • Board Prep Resources
          • OKAP and Board Review Presentations
          • Study Flashcards
        • Resident Courses
        • Resident Videos
        • Cataract Master
        • Simulation in Resident Education
        • Diversity and Inclusion Education
        • Pediatric Ophthalmology Education Center
        • News and Advice from YO Info
        • PGY-1 and PGY-2 Resources
    • Membership
      • Join
      • Renew
      • Current Member
      • Volunteer
      • Physician Wellness
      • Member Directory
      • Member Obituaries
      • AAOE Membership
    • Advocacy
      • Advocacy News
      • Get Involved
        • Ways to Give
        • How to Get Involved
        • Congressional Advocacy
        • Support the Academy's Agenda
        • Research Legislation
        • Find Your Legislators
        • I Am an Advocate
        • Advocacy at Home
        • Advocate Tools
        • Best Practices for Advocating at Home
        • Social Media Toolkit
        • Letter to Editor
        • Town Hall Guide
        • Guide to Engaging With New Lawmakers
        • Resources
        • Attending a Political Fundraiser
      • OPHTHPAC
        • About Us
        • Join OPHTHPAC
        • OPHTHPAC Blog
      • Surgical Scope Fund
        • Support Surgery By Surgeons
        • Surgery By Surgeons Blog
    • Publications
      • EyeNet Magazine
        • Latest Issue
        • Archive
        • Subscribe
        • Advertise
        • Write For Us
        • Corporate Lunches
        • Contact
        • MIPS 2019
        • MIPS 2020
      • Focal Points
      • Ophthalmology
      • Ophthalmology Glaucoma
      • Ophthalmology Retina
      • YO Info
      • Scope
    • Subspecialties
      • Cataract/Anterior Segment
      • Comprehensive Ophthalmology
      • Cornea/External Disease
      • Glaucoma
      • Neuro-Ophthalmology/Orbit
      • Ocular Pathology/Oncology
      • Oculoplastics/Orbit
      • Pediatric Ophthalmology/Strabismus
      • Refractive Management/Intervention
      • Retina/Vitreous
      • Uveitis
    • IRIS Registry
      • About
      • Using the Registry
        • User Guide
        • Medicare Reporting
        • Maintenance of Certification
        • Non-EHR Reporting
      • Sign Up
        • Application Process
        • Why Participate
        • Once You've Applied: Getting Started
        • What Practices Are Saying About the Registry
      • Requirements
        • EHR Systems
        • Data & Technical Needs
      • Research
      • Registry Dashboard
      • News
    • Medicare Information
  • For Practice Management
    • Managing Your Practice
      • Coronavirus Resources
      • Reopening & Recovery
      • Practice Forms Library
      • Practice Management News and Advice
      • Listservs
      • Video Library
      • Ophthalmology Job Center
      • Benchmarking and Salary Tools
      • Academy Consultations
      • Consultant Directory
    • Coding
      • Codequest Events
      • Ask the Coding Experts
      • Coding Updates and Resources
      • Coding for Injectable Drugs
      • EM Documentation
      • ICD-10-CM
      • Ophthalmic Coding Specialist (OCS) Exam
      • Retina
    • Webinars and Events
      • Ophthalmology Business Summit
      • Codequest Courses
      • Annual Meeting
        • Course Submission Instructions
      • Mid-Year Forum
      • Webinar Recordings
    • IRIS Registry
      • Merit-Based Incentive Payment
    • Medicare and MIPS
      • MIPS
        • Quality
        • Promoting Interoperability
        • Improvement Activities
        • Cost
        • Avoid a Penalty
      • Resources
      • Medicare Participation Options
      • Medicare Advantage Plans
      • New Medicare Card
      • Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS)
    • Regulatory Compliance
      • HIPPA Resources
      • Office of Inspector General
      • Audits
      • OSHA
    • AAOE Membership
      • Join AAOE
      • Membership Benefits
      • Renew/Pay Dues
    • About AAOE
      • AAOE Board of Directors
      • AAOE Content Committee
      • Volunteer Opportunities
  • For Public & Patients
    • Eye Health A-Z
    • Symptoms
    • Glasses & Contacts
    • Tips & Prevention
    • News
    • Ask an Ophthalmologist
    • Patient Stories
    • No Cost Eye Exams
    • Español
      • A - Z de Salud Ocular
      • Síntomas
      • Anteojos y Lentes de Contacto
      • Consejos y Prevención
      • Noticias
      • Relatos de Pacientes
      • Exámenes de la vista sin costo
      • English
  • AAO 2021
    • Meeting Information
      • Past and Future Meetings
      • Contact Information
      • Virtual Meeting Help
      • Virtual Meeting Guide
      • Policies and Disclaimers
    • Program
      • Program Search
      • Program Highlights
      • Program Committees
      • CME
      • Meeting Archives
    • Expo
    • Registration
    • Hotels & Travel
      • Hotel Reservation Information
      • New Orleans
      • International Attendees
      • Hotel Meeting Space
    • Presenter Central
      • Presenter Central
      • Abstract Selection Process
      • Submission Policies
      • Subject Classification/Topics
      • Instruction Courses and Skills Transfer Labs
      • Papers and Posters
      • Videos
      • Grand Rounds Symposium
      • Program Participant and Faculty Guidelines
      • Faculty Development Program
    • Exhibitors
      • Exhibitor Central
      • Exhibitor Portal Information
      • New Exhibiting Companies
      • Exhibitor Resources
  • About
    • Who We Are
      • What We Do
      • About Ophthalmology
      • The Eye Care Team
      • Ethics and the Academy
      • History
      • Museum of Vision
      • Values
    • Governance
      • Council
      • Board of Trustees
      • Committees
      • Academy Past Presidents
      • Secretariats
      • Elections
      • Academy Blog
      • Academy Staff Leadership
    • Leadership Development
    • Awards
      • Laureate Recognition Award
      • Outstanding Advocate Award
      • Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award
      • International Blindness Prevention Award
      • Distinguished Service Award
      • Guests of Honor
      • Secretariat Award
      • Straatsma Award
      • Achievement Award Program
      • Artemis Award
      • EnergEYES Award
      • International Education Award
      • International Scholar Award
      • Commitment to Advocacy Award
      • Visionary Society Award
    • Financial Relationships
    • Policy Statements
    • Related Organizations
      • Subspecialty/Specialized Interest Society Directory
      • State Society Directory
      • Subspecialty/Specialized Interest Society Meetings
      • State Society Meetings
      • Resources for Societies
    • Year in Review
      • 2019 Year in Review
  • Foundation
    • About
      • Funding Allocations and Sources
      • 2019-2020 Annual Report
      • Annual Report Archives
      • News From the Chair
      • Foundation Staff
    • Our Impact
      • Partners for Sight
      • Donor Spotlights
      • Global Ophthalmic Community
      • Sponsorships
      • Patients and the Public
    • Giving Options
      • Our Supporters
      • Estate and Planned Giving
      • Ophthalmic Business Council
    • Orbital Gala
      • Why Attend
      • Photo Recap
      • Corporate Support Opportunities
      • Tribute Gifts
      • Silent Auction
      • Corporate Sponsors
    • Donate
    • Museum of the Eye Campaign
      • Museum Supporters
  • Museum of the Eye
    • Visit
    • Events
    • Explore
      • Research and Resources
      • Collection Search
      • Previous Exhibits
      • Oral Histories
      • Biographies
    • Volunteer
    • Mailing List
    • Donate
    • About the Museum
      • Museum Blog
  • Young Ophthalmologists
    • YO Info
    • Learn to Bill
    • Engage with the Academy
  • Senior Ophthalmologists
    • Scope
    • Practice Transitions
  • International Ophthalmologists
    • Global Programs and Resources for National Societies
    • Awards
    • Global Outreach
  • Residents
  • Medical Students
×
Log In Create an Account
  • For Ophthalmologists
  • For Practice Management
  • For Public & Patients
  • About
  • Foundation
  • Museum of the Eye
  • Eye Health A-Z
  • Symptoms
  • Glasses & Contacts
  • Tips & Prevention
  • News
  • Ask an Ophthalmologist
  • Patient Stories
  • No-Cost Eye Exams
  • Español
    • For Public & Patients /
    • News
  • Closeup of a man's torso as he loosens a necktie that's placed over a white dress shirt.

    Glaucoma and Neckties: Too Soon to Tell If There Is a Meaningful Connection

    Leer en Español:
    El glaucoma y las corbatas: es aún demasiado pronto para saber si hay una relación significativa
    Written By: Dan T. Gudgel
    Reviewed By: Andrew George Iwach, MD
    Aug. 22, 2018

    A California mayor's proposal to bar workplace necktie requirements has some science behind it. But a glaucoma diagnosis isn’t an automatic excuse to ditch your necktie. The research being cited was about the effect of tight neckties on blood flow in the brain – not glaucoma, specifically.

    Rex Parris, mayor of Lancaster, Calif., is calling for neckties to be optional within the city, according to the Los Angeles Times. The mayor asked city staff to find out whether it would be possible to ban employers from requiring neckties in the workplace.

    • A recent study in the journal Neuroradiology found that tight neckties can limit blood flow to the brain by pressing on arteries in the neck. This is the study that inspired Mayor Parris to propose the ban, according to the Times.
    • A 2003 study in the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that tight neckties can raise intraocular pressure – a risk factor for glaucoma.

    Is There a Necktie-Glaucoma Link?

    But Andrew G. Iwach, MD, an ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist in San Francisco, Calif., cautions that it’s too early to make any general recommendations regarding glaucoma from the new study. Dr. Iwach said, “This early research is interesting but until we get longer-term, controlled studies, talk to your ophthalmologist to make choices for your own life.” Dr. Iwach was not involved with the Neuroradiology study.

    People with glaucoma and those at increased risk for glaucoma should talk to their ophthalmologist about their activities and health goals. Your doctor can warn you about anything that can make glaucoma worse — such as chronically increased intraocular pressure. But until there is direct research about the effect of neckties on glaucoma, there is no one-size-fits-all guidance for the public.

    “We don’t treat means or averages, we treat individuals,” said Dr. Iwach. Different risk factors have different levels of importance for individuals. An ophthalmologist can balance your overall health with your goals and activities to make the recommendation that’s right for you.

    And your ophthalmologist can help you separate this week’s news hype from the proven facts. Regular vision screenings and early diagnosis provide the best options for effective glaucoma care.

     

  • Related Stories

    Red or purple raised lesion around the eye or eyelid
    Apr 07, 2021
    Scarring in or on the eyeball
    Apr 07, 2021
    Casual Wine Drinkers Less Likely to Get Cataracts
    Mar 31, 2021
    What Is Carotid Artery Disease?
    Mar 23, 2021
    Eye Injuries Cost the NBA $2.4 Million in Single Season
    Mar 16, 2021
  • More Eye Health News

    Casual Wine Drinkers Less Likely to Get Cataracts
    MAR 31, 2021 By Vered Hazanchuk
    Low to moderate wine drinkers are the least likely to develop cataracts compared with nondrinkers and people who drink other types of alcohol, according to new study.
    Eye Injuries Cost the NBA $2.4 Million in Single Season
    MAR 16, 2021 By Susanne Medeiros
    Eye injuries sustained during the 2018-2019 season cost the NBA $2.4 million in lost productivity, based on the salaries of the players injured
    Do People With AMD Have a Higher Risk of COVID Complications?
    MAR 10, 2021
    Patients with macular degeneration may have an elevated risk of COVID complications and death, a new study suggests. But eye experts caution that more research is needed to understand this risk.
    Poor Air Quality Raises the Risk of AMD, According to New Research
    FEB 10, 2021 By Vered Hazanchuk
    New research suggests living in a city with poor air quality increases your chance of developing age-related macular degeneration.
  • Find an Ophthalmologist
    Advanced Search
  • Ask an Ophthalmologist

    Browse Answers
  • Free Newsletter

    Get ophthalmologist-reviewed tips and information about eye health and preserving your vision.

  • Free EyeSmart Resources for Professionals

    • Link your website to EyeSmart
    • Steer more patients to your practice website
    • Embed EyeSmart videos on your website
    • Promotional materials for eye health observances

    EyeSmart resources are also available in Spanish.

 
  • Contact Us
  • About the Academy
  • Jobs at the Academy
  • Financial Relationships with Industry
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Help
  • For Advertisers
  • For Media
  • Ophthalmology Job Center

OUR SITES

  • EyeWiki
  • International Society of Refractive Surgery

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY

Medical Professionals

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Public & Patients

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Museum of the Eye

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Trip Advisor
  • Yelp
© American Academy of Ophthalmology 2021
Also of Interest
  • Eye Injuries At Work
  • Should I worry that my son has congenital...
  • Study Sizes Up Viagra's Vision Problem