Correlating intraocular pressure, blood pressure, and heart rate changes after jogging

PURPOSE. To examine the effects of jogging on intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). METHODS. Twenty-nine healthy individuals-25 athletes and 4 untrained-were studied. IOP, systolic and diastolic BP, and HR were measured before and just after 20 minutes of jogging (submaximal - 70% - aerobic exercise). RESULTS. IOP decreased after jogging. Only three individuals had unchanged IOP in one eye and one individual in both eyes. The IOP decrease (1 to 8 mmHg) was statistically significant (p<0.001). BP increased after jogging (systolic: 0 to 60 mmHg, statistically significant changes, p<0.001; diastolic: 0 to 15 mmHg, statistically significant changes, p<0.001). HR increased as well (15 to 80 pulses/min, statistically significant changes, p< 0.001). However, there were individuals who presented a significant decrease of IOP and a mild BP rise and vice versa, and also individuals with mild IOP decrease and significant HR change and vice versa. The statistical analysis clearly showed that there are no linear quantitative correlations between BP or HR changes and IOP changes. CONCLUSIONS. IOP decreases after jogging. Changes in BP and HR values have no linear quantitative correlation with IOP decrease. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2004; 14: 117-22)