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Effects of Exercise on Intraocular Pressure and Glaucoma
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- In this systematic review, the authors examined the effects of various forms of exercise on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma. Sustained moderate-intensity exercise, such as jogging or riding a bicycle ergometer, has been shown to result in a statistically significant reduction in IOP. Additionally, high-intensity interval training on treadmills lowers IOP significantly. Low-intensity aerobic exercise did not result in significant IOP reduction. Weight lifting, which has been studied with both squatting and leg press, significantly increases IOP during (up to 28.7 mm Hg above baseline) and immediately after exercise is performed (4 mm Hg–8 mm Hg above baseline at 1 minute after exercise).
- Although further studies are needed, the addition of aerobic exercise may be of benefit for IOP reduction in patients with glaucoma.
abstract
This abstract is available on the publisher's site.
Access this abstract nowPRÉCIS
A review of the literature found that certain types of exercise and physical activity result in transient reductions in intraocular pressure and may have a beneficial effect on glaucoma severity and progression.
INTRODUCTION
Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide. Raised intraocular pressure (IOP) is the most important risk factor for the disease. Exercise is known to result in changes in IOP. The purpose of this review was to investigate the effect of exercise on IOP and glaucoma.
METHODS
A comprehensive search of multiple literature databases was performed. Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane libraries were used to search for the relevant terms. 16 original studies were selected for the review.
RESULTS
Exercise of varying intensity and type has differing effects on IOP. Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise results in transient reductions in IOP, while high-intensity resistance exercise and weight-lifting lead to transient elevations in IOP. There is evidence to suggest that exercise and higher levels of fitness may be protective against the development of glaucoma. In addition, increased daily physical activity may be associated with less visual field progression in patients with glaucoma. While secondary causes of glaucoma are included in some of the studies discussed in this review, the findings are largely applicable to primary open angle glaucoma.
CONCLUSION
Exercise may be a beneficial lifestyle modification in the management of glaucoma; however, further longitudinal studies are required to validate this.
Additional Info
The Effect of Exercise on Intraocular Pressure and Glaucoma
J. Glaucoma 2024 Jun 01;33(6)381-386, D Gildea, A Doyle, J O'ConnorFrom MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.