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Geraldo Magela Vieira, MD; Hildeamo Bonifácio Oliveira, MSD; Daniel Tavares de Andrade, MSD; Martim Bottaro, PhD; Robert Ritch, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 2006;124:1251-1254.

Objective  To evaluate the effect of weight lifting on intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods  Subjects performed 4 repetitions of a bench press exercise in 2 ways: in mode I (right eyes), the breath was held during the last repetition; in mode II (left eyes), subjects exhaled normally during the last repetition. The IOP was measured with an electronic tonometer during the fourth repetition in both modes while the subject sustained the exercise.

Results  Mean IOP during exercise in mode I increased by 4.3 ± 4.2 mm Hg (P<.001, paired t test; range, –3.6 to 17.7 mm Hg). In mode II, mean IOP increased by 2.2 ± 3.0 mm Hg (P<.001, paired t test; range, –6.0 to 8.7 mm Hg). The IOP increased in 90% of subjects in mode I and in 62% in mode II. An increase in IOP greater than 5.0 mm Hg was observed in 9 subjects (30%) in mode I and in 6 (21%) in mode II. In 2 subjects, IOP during exercise mode I was markedly increased (>10.0 mm Hg).

Conclusions  The IOP increases significantly during a bench press exercise. Breath holding during the exercise leads to a greater IOP increase.

Author Affiliations: Institute of Specialized Ophthalmology and UNIPLAC School of Medicine (Dr Vieira), Department of Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília (Messrs Oliveira and de Andrade), and Departments of Physical Education and Ophthalmology, University of Brasília (Dr Bottaro), Brasília, Brazil; Department of Ophthalmology, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York (Dr Ritch); and Department of Ophthalmology, New York Medical College, Valhalla (Dr Ritch).

RELATED LETTERS

Intraocular Pressure During Weight Lifting
Jost B. Jonas
Arch Ophthalmol. 2008;126(2):287-288.
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Intraocular Pressure During Weight Lifting—Reply
Geraldo Magela Vieira and Robert Ritch
Arch Ophthalmol. 2008;126(2):288.
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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Intraocular Pressure During Weight Lifting
Jonas
Arch Ophthalmol 2008;126:287-288.
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Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2006;90:1552-1552.
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