Physical fitness and intraocular pressure

The ability of moderate to intense aerobic exercise to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) has been reported. Previous studies have focused on a single postexercise recovery period not considering the long-term effect of improved physical fitness on IOP. A total of 32 adult subjects, all having IOP's of greater than 18 mmm Hg in each eye as determined by an American Optical Corporation Non-Contact Tonometer, were selected for the study. After a complete medical and visual evaluation, participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (N = 18) receiving a 6-month supervised exercise program to improve physical fitness or into a control group (N = 14). After 6 months, each group was reevaluated to observe changes in physical fitness and IOP. Pre- and poststudy measurements of maximum oxygen uptake (ml/kg/min) made with a Beckman O2 analyzer showed significant improvement in physical fitness in the intervention group (p less than 0.05). There was a significant decrease (p less than 0.05) in IOP, 2.0 mmm Hg in the right eye and 1.3 mm Hg in the left eye, in the intervention group; however, decreases in IOP were comparable and significant (p less than 0.05) in the control group. Results from multiple regression analysis for each individual group and for combined groups indicated that changes in IOP were not dependent upon changes in physical fitness.