The Effect Of Exercise On Intraocular Pressure.

Many factors have been shown to affect intraocular pressure. Among these factors of age, systemic or ocular health, diurnal variations, and either systemic or ocular medications, is a change in blood pressure. This paper examines the affect of strenuous exercise, distance running, on intraocular pressure. Fifteen subjects were tested comprising three groups. All those tested were in good health and had open, grade three or four, anterior chamber angles, as determined using the penlight shadow test. Their age ranged between 23 and 33 years old. Five were members of the Ferris State University Track Team, five were recreational runners who run three to four times a week, and five were the control group. With the exception of the control group, all subjects tested ran five miles on the indoor track at Ferris State University. Intraocular pressures were measured before the running began, at the end of one—half mile, one and one—half miles, three miles, and five miles. Two measurements per eye were made using a noncontact tonometer. A comparison of the change in intraocular pressures of the three groups was made. Results showed little change in intraocular pressure in both the experimental groups and the control group.