We perform a theoretical study, using a variational approach, of the effects of hydrostatic pressure on the exciton binding energies and photoluminescence peak positions in GaAs-Ga1-xAlxAs cylindrical quantum-well wires within the effective-mass approximation. Calculated results suggest that future device applications may be realized by properly varying the wire dimensions and applying hydrostatic pressure. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.3711153157