Outcomes of a Physical Activity Intervention in Patients With Glaucoma: A Feasibility Study

To determine the feasibility of increasing physical activity (PA) levels in patients with glaucoma and its correlation with improved intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual function.

Thirty-five participants aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with glaucoma and visual field (VF) damage between -5 and -25 decibels (dB) in at least one eye, were included. Participants were given a Fitbit Charge 2 accelerometer and, through personalized text messages, were asked to increase their PA by 500 steps weekly until reaching 10,000 steps/day. VF testing and IOP were performed for each eye during baseline, 3-month, and 6-month study visits.

Average baseline steps/week were 4772 ± 2978. By week 7, participants on average increased their activity to 7656 ± 2985 steps/week. Average steps/week between weeks 8 and 26 were 7793 ± 3460. On average, PA increased by 409 steps/week in the first 7 weeks (95% confidence interval [CI], 314-504; P < 0.001), but no further change (β = -15 steps/week; 95% CI, -35 to 5; P = 0.15) was observed. Lower end-of-study IOPs were noted for the better eye (P < 0.01) but not the worse-seeing eye. Each 10% improvement in PA was associated with 0.05 mm Hg (β = -0.05 mm Hg; 95% CI, -0.09 to -0.001; P = 0.05) lowering in IOP of the worse-seeing eye.

Patients with glaucoma enrolled in a structured PA intervention increased mean PA by at least 50% over 7 weeks, retaining activity for 6 months, with some IOP declines but no VF changes.

These findings demonstrate that a structured program to improve PA is feasible and may aid in investigating possible beneficial effects of PA on glaucoma.