title: Short-term effects of relaxation music on patients suffering from primary open-angle glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether additive relaxation music (RM) has an adjuvant short-term effect on physiological and psychological parameters in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized clinical trial. Patients in the therapy group (TG) received a 30-minute RM via headphones, whereas members of the control group (CG) did not. Best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual field testing, short- and long-term mental states, and blood levels of different stress hormones were analyzed and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 25 (61%)/16 (39%) patients were assigned to the TG/CG. Best corrected visual acuity, daily intraocular pressure, and short-term mental state (KAB) development were significantly better in the TG in comparison to controls. Visual field testing, long-term mental well-being (profile of mood states), and adrenalin, cortisol, and endothelin-I blood levels did not differ significantly between both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additive RM applied on a daily basis can positively impact various physiological and psychological parameters in the short term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps-University Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bertelmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps-University Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Strempel
keywords: IOP; POAG; intraocular pressure; mental health; music therapy; primary open angle glaucoma