The role of intense pressure during exercise joins a growing body of studies that have looked at everything from tight clothing to blowing wind instruments as causes of strain on the inner eye, which is seen as a risk factor for glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.

One patient developed severe intraeye pressure while performing yoga exercises that required handstands; another had been held hostage in Iran and was forced to hang upside down. In each instance, the unusual position forced blood pressure to increase in the jugular veins and, hence, inside the eyes. The yoga exerciser became blind as a result.

Three years ago, Dr. Theodore Krupin of Northwestern University in Illinois found that men who wore tight neckties also experienced a potentially damaging increase in intraocular pressure.

You now have an excuse to tell your gf/wife/boss/parent for why you can't work out, practice the flute, or wear ties.  Wasn't that worth a minute of your time?  If not then here's some pix too: 

first Giant's game (thanks 49ounces)

eating solids (or at least trying to)

hanging with uncle peter

-a