Effect of exercise on intraocular pressure

Abstract

To determine the effect of physical exercise on intraocular pressure (IOP), twentyfive (25) healthy Adults aged between 18 – 32 years with mean age of 23.80±3.77yrs were examined. The participants were selected from five busy gymnastic centers in Benin metropolis. They were all Emmetropes, with good physical conditions and had no history of any ocular or systemic disease. The IOP for each participant was measured between the hours of 3pm–6pm with the Perkins Hand-Held Tonometer after the application of topical anesthesia (0.5% tetracaine). The IOP was measured before and immediately after each exercise (tread-mill Jogger and Skipping). Thereafter, it was measured at intervals of 30minutes and 60mins respectively.
The result obtained showed that the observed mean IOP before the exercise was 14.55 ± 2.35 mmHg, and the mean IOP immediately after treadmill jogging and Skipping exercises were 8.66 ± 1.98 mmHg and 11.18 ± 1.915 mmHg respectively. Also, the IOP readings 30mins and 60mins after treadmill jogging was 12.61±1.797 mmHg and14.97 ± 2.71 mmHg respectively while
that after skipping was 13.19 ± 2.235 mmHg and 14.75 ± 2.08 mmHg respectively. Statistically, there was significant decrease in mean IOP immediately after treadmill jogger and skipping exercise using one way analysis of variance ANOVA (F= 1.813, F=16.951, P<0.05).The IOP value returned to normal after 60mins of the exercise. Thus, physical exercise results in a decrease in IOP. Patients with increased IOP may benefit from regular exercise in order to enhance aqueous outflow to avoid the
development of glaucoma.