Objective:

Determine the changes undergone by intraocular pressure in seemingly healthy subjects after the practice of physical exercise.

Methods:

A descriptive prospective study was conducted at Jesús Menéndez Sports Center in the municipality of Marianao, province of Havana from May to August 2016. The study was managed by specialists from the Glaucoma Service at Ramón Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology. A sample was selected of seemingly healthy subjects, who agreed to participate in the study. Two groups were formed according to the type of physical exercise: strength training or aerobics. Intraocular pressure was measured at baseline and after the exercises (immediately, at 15 minutes and at 30 minutes) with a Perkins tonometer.

Results:

The groups were composed of 20 subjects each: male (strength group) and female (aerobics group). Mean age was 32.9 and 34.6 years, respectively. In the strength group, the mean baseline intraocular pressure of 15.93 mmHg rose to 3.71 mmHg immediately after the exercise, and fell at 30 minutes to reach values similar to the baseline. In the aerobics group, the mean baseline intraocular pressure of 15.73 mmHg fell to 5.13 mmHg immediately after the exercise, and rose at 30 minutes to reach values similar to the baseline.

Conclusions:

Intraocular pressure rises or falls in healthy subjects in keeping with the type of exercise (strength or aerobics, respectively), and returns to values similar to the baseline at 30 minutes in both groups.

        · resumen en Español     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )