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Effect of bicycle ergometer test on intraocular pressure in elderly athletes and controls
Author(s) -
Era Pertti,
Pärssinen Olavi,
Kallinen Mauri,
Suominen Harri
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1993.tb07139.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intraocular pressure , bicycle ergometer , athletes , glaucoma , blood pressure , physical therapy , population , heart rate , ophthalmology , environmental health
To evaluate the effect of intensive physical exercise on intraocular pressure (IOP) in 66‐ to 85‐year‐old subjects IOP was measured before and after a maximal bicycle ergometer test The non‐glaucomatous subjects comprised 85 male and 36 female athletes and 16 male and 22 female controls of corresponding age drawn from a population register IOP was measured using a non‐contact tonometer The results indicated a decrease ( 2 mmHg) in 34% of the subjects, no change in 57% and an increase in 9% The decrease was more pronounced in subjects with higher pre‐test values In all four subjects with a pre‐test value above 22 mmHg a reduction from 4 to 11 mmHg was observed The change in IOP during physical loading was not significantly associated with the intensity and duration of the exercise test Three of the 5 male subjects with diagnosed glaucoma and undergoing hypotensive medication, who were analyzed separately, also showed a reduction in IOP during loading In the pre‐ or post‐test values there were no differences between the athletes and controls, while women tended to have higher IOP values than men It is concluded that physical loading has predominantly a moderating effect, if any, on IOP in elderly men and women