Intraocular pressure and ocular perfusion pressure responses during low-intensity endurance exercise in primary-open angle glaucoma patients versus age- and sex-matched controls: Influence of walking pace and external load

Abstract

This study compared the effects of low-intensity endurance exercise at two different walking paces with/without external loads on intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) in primary open-angle glaucoma patients (POAG) and matched controls. Twenty-one POAG patients and 17 healthy individuals performed four 400-m walking protocols (slow/fast × with/without loads). IOP was measured before exercise, during the walking test and after 1 and 5 min of recovery. OPP was assessed before exercise and after 1 and 5 min of recovery. IOP was stable in POAG patients during the execution of low-intensity endurance exercise (p = 0.14) regardless of the walking pace and the use of external loads (both p > 0.69). However, controls showed a moderate IOP rise during the walking test (p < 0.001), with this effect being heightened when using external loads (p < 0.001). Both groups experienced a transient OPP rise after exercise (p < 0.001) and this increase was greater in the fast- than the slow-paced condition (p = 0.049). POAG patients showed stable IOP while walking at slow and fast speeds, while OPP increased after walking, particularly at a fast pace. These findings suggest that low-intensity endurance exercise is a safe strategy to improve fitness levels in POAG patients.