Relationship Between Post-Exercise Changes in the Lens and Schlemm's Canal: A Swept-Source Optical Coherence...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Anatomy
• Physiology

Background:

• The ocular structures, including the lens and Schlemm's canal (SC), are dynamic and can be affected by physiological changes.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for assessing intraocular pressure regulation and ocular health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on the lens and Schlemm's canal (SC) in healthy individuals.
• To determine the relationship between post-exercise changes in the lens and SC using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Main Methods:

• Thirty-five healthy young adults underwent aerobic exercise (20-minute jogging).
• Swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) was used to measure SC area and perimeter, trabecular meshwork (TM) length and thickness, lens vault (LV), and lens thickness (LT) before and after exercise.

Main Results:

• Significant increases were observed in SC area, SC perimeter, TM length, and TM thickness post-exercise.
• A significant decrease in lens vault (LV) was noted, while lens thickness (LT) remained unchanged.
• Post-exercise SC area changes were significantly associated with post-exercise LV changes.

Conclusions:

• Aerobic exercise induces backward axial displacement of the lens and expansion of the Schlemm's canal (SC).
• The backward lens displacement is a potential causative factor for post-exercise SC expansion, mediated by the lens-zonular-ciliotrabecular pathway.