A recent review explored the effects of physical exercise on intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. Research up to this point has been inconclusive regarding the effects of exercise on glaucoma and intraocular pressure.
“Some theories suggest that an exercise-induced IOP elevation may lead to reduced ocular perfusion pressure, possibly causing mechanical or ischemic damage to the optic nerve head,” researchers explained in their article published in International Ophthalmology. “Contrarily, other studies propose that exercise can trigger a reduction in IOP levels, thus positively affecting ocular health.” Previously, the only systematic review that addressed the effects of exercise on glaucoma focused solely on yoga.
The new review examined 15 studies that involved 728 participants and evaluated the immediate and long-term effects of aerobic exercise and resistance training on IOP. Among the data collected were participant characteristics, exercise performed, IOP measurement tool used, and significant intra- and inter-group changes in IOP after physical activity.
The majority of studies that analyzed a single exercise session showed significant effects of exercise on IOP. Approximately half of these studies reported significant intra-group reduction in IOP immediately after aerobic exercise, and two reported a reduction in IOP at 24 minutes and 60 minutes after exercise. However, some studies reported elevated IOP during or shortly after the exercise session, and others noted that higher IOP lasted for at least 30 minutes and up to 120 minutes after exercise ended.
The researchers also found that one study showed “a more substantial IOP decrease in glaucoma participants compared to healthy participants post-aerobic exercise,” while another reported higher IOP at all time points in patients with glaucoma compared to healthy patients.
Some studies showed a reduction in IOP after prolonged exercise programs, compared to others that reported an increase in IOP over time. The researchers described reports from one study of “a significant reduction in IOP values immediately after the aerobic intervention, but at 3 months post-intervention, IOP increased significantly in the aerobic group compared with irregular exercises group.”
While this review shows that exercise, particularly aerobic activity, shows potential in managing IOP in glaucoma patients, the evidence remains inconclusive due to variations in study design, participant demographics, and exercise parameters. The review called for more standardized, long-term studies to confirm these findings and provide clearer guidelines for integrating exercise into glaucoma management.
A full list of author disclosures can be found in the published research.
