Changes in pupillary dynamics in young men during prolonged severe exercise

Infrared pupillography has been performed on 9 male cadets taking part in a combat course lasting for 5 days. The combat course involved lack of sleep, strong physical exercise and caloric deficit. During the course pupillary size was determined after rapid adaptation to darkness and the rate of concentration and the rate of dilatation after stimulation of the opposite eye with light was determined. Dilatation time increased by 50% towards the end of the course and pupillary size before light stimulation was reduced by 14%. On day 3 and 5, but not on day 1, small amplitude pupillary oscillations were observed. The speed of contraction was, however, unchanged.