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Editors Selection IGR 19-3
Risk Factors: Aerobic exercise and IOP
Comment by Steve Mansberger on:
24684 Aerobic exercise and intraocular pressure in normotensive and glaucoma patients, Natsis K; Asouhidou I; Nousios G et al., BMC Ophthalmology, 2009; 9: 6
This manuscript by Natsis et al. (1465) expands the knowledge regarding aerobic exercise and intraocular pressure. The authors included seven groups of participants ranging from normotensives that exercise regularly; normotensives treated in the right eye with timolol, latanoprost, or brimonidine; and glaucoma patients treated with beta-blockers, prostaglandin analogs, or combined ocular hypotensive treatment. The authors measured intraocular pressure before and five minutes after aerobic activity.
Overall, the authors found a 2-3 mmHg reduction in all groups. This suggests that exercise has an additive effect of lowering intraocular pressure regardless of the class of ocular hypotensive medication, or the number of medications. Furthermore, the mechanism of intraocular pressure lowering seems to be different from the mechanisms utilized by the ocular hypotensive medications.
Exercise has an additive effect of lowering intraocular pressure regardless of the class of ocular hypotensive medication, or the number of medications
Many of our patients will ask about exercise and its effect on glaucoma. This study reinforces earlier studies that suggest that aerobic exercise is beneficial for lowering intraocular pressure. Clinicians should caution patients with pigmentary dispersion syndrome that exercise may raise their pressure for a short-term. In addition, this manuscript refers to aerobic exercise, since other forms of exercise, including isotonic exercises (weightlifting) and exercises involving inversion (yoga), may increase intraocular pressure. Further studies are needed to determine how aerobic exercise affects the long-term control of intraocular pressure, and overall prognosis of the primary open-angle glaucoma patient.
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