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Editors Selection IGR 14-2

IOP and Trabecular Meshwork: Aerobic exercise, IOP and OPA

Comment by Steve Mansberger on:

45535 The short-term influence of exercise on axial length and intraocular pressure, Read SA; Collins MJ, Eye, 2011; 25: 767-774

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Read et al. (644) document the effect of moderate aerobic exercise on ocular perfusion amplitude, and axial length, as well as previously studied factors such as intraocular pressure. It included 20 healthy volunteers with average age of 25 years old. The volunteers exercised with a stationary bike to 70% of heart rate reserve. Dynamic contour tonometry measured intraocular pressure (IOP), and ocular perfusion amplitude. An optical biometer measured central corneal thickness, axial length, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, choroidal and retinal thickness. They also recorded refractive error, ocular perfusion pressure, and blood pressure. They performed measurements prior to exercise, immediately following exercise, and five and ten minutes after exercise. Exercise significantly decreased intraocular pressure, ocular perfusion amplitude, and axial length.

Exercise significantly decreased intraocular pressure, ocular perfusion amplitude (OPA), and axial length

Intraocular pressure dropped by 1.7 mmHg and axial length by 0.017 mm immediately following exercise. Exercise created no significant change in lens thickness, retinal thickness, choroidal thickness, and central corneal thickness. Finally, exercise showed a small increase in anterior chamber depth. Myopic refractive error did not affect the results.

What does this mean to eye care providers, patients, and researchers? The small change in axial length would not alter intraocular lens calculation. Similar to previous studies, eye care providers may suggest exercise as a method to decrease IOP in their glaucoma patients. Overall, this well-designed study adds to the existing literature on the effect of exercise, but does not alter our current clinical care. Future studies may examine the effect of exercise in older subjects and glaucoma patients, with longer duration and frequent exercise, and alternatively with minimal exertion such as walking.

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