Assessment of the Impact of Physical Activity on Intraocular Pressure in Young People

Abstract

The aim. To assess intraocular pressure (IOP) values in medical students before and after exercise and to analyze the possible relationship between body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and IOP. Materials and methods. Examinations were conducted in 77 young people (154 eyes) aged 18-20 years without complaints and pathology of the eye. The study group consisted of 27 males (35 %) and 50 females (65 %). Assessment of IOP, SBP, DBP was performed at the beginning and after physical activities. Before the measurement, each student had a rest for 5-10 minutes for normalization of heart and respiratory rates. Blood pressure was measured on both hands. Intraocular pressure was measured using the Icare TA01I tonometer. Blood pressure was measured using Paramed X3 patient monitor. The duration of physical activity was ± 60 minutes and was divided into two parts. Results. According to the obtained results, there was no statistically significant difference between blood pressure levels before and after exercise, but it should be noted that after the exercise blood pressure rose by an average of 13 %. IOP before and after the exercises did not show statistically significant changes, but, from mathematical point of view, we could note the decrease in the average indicators of IOP for both eyes. IOP decrease was 3 % for the right eye and 2 % for the left eye. No relationship between the IOP rise and gender was noted. Conclusions. According to the results of the study, it was found that blood pressure and IOP after exercises in medical students with normal BMI and without concomitant pathology showed no significant changes.