Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Intraocular pressure after exposure to moderate altitude

  • Glaucoma
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

To study intraocular pressure (IOP) alteration in healthy individuals following a rapid effortless increase in altitude from 1900 m above sea level (ASL) to 3740 m ASL.

Methods

Intraocular pressure, blood pressure, pulse rate, and arterial oxygen tension were determined in both eyes of healthy volunteers at the lower altitude. Participants were taken to a higher altitude of 3740 m ASL (1840-m altitude gain) via gondola lift, which took 30 minutes. All measurements were repeated at the higher altitude. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to assess the correlations among the variables. A paired t-test and linear regression were also used to compare IOP before and after ascending. The accepted level of significance for all tests was p <0.05.

Results

Fifty-four healthy volunteers participated in the study. Four eyes of three subjects with IOP higher than 21 mmHg were excluded. Intraocular pressure ± SD (range) decreased from 14.9 ± 2.6 mmHg (9–21 mmHg) to 14.3 ± 2.4 mmHg (11–20 mmHg) (p = 0.02) after the ascent. Arterial oxygen saturation decreased from 95.4 % to 91.5 % (p < 0.001). Neither of the participants complained of any ocular or systemic symptoms during or after ascending to the higher altitude. Mean IOP, before and after ascending, was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure before and after the increase in altitude (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.41, p = 0.002 and Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.37, p = 0.006, respectively). Intraocular pressure changes did not correlate with age, pulse rate, or arterial oxygen saturation.

Conclusion

A rapid, effortless increase in altitude (over a moderate range in altitude) decreases IOP in healthy individuals. The observed decrease may not be clinically significant; however, it shows the versatility of IOP control mechanisms in response to alteration in altitude and temperature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bosch MM, Merz TM, Barthelmes D, Petrig BL, Truffer F, Bloch KE, Turk A, Maggiorini M, Hess T, Schoch OD, Hefti U, Sutter FK, Pichler J, Huber A, Landau K (2009) New insights into ocular blood flow at very high altitudes. J Appl Physiol 106:454–460

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Morris DS, Somner JE, Scott KM, McCormick IJ, Aspinall P, Dhillon B (2007) Corneal thickness at high altitude. Cornea 26:308–311

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Pavlidis M, Stupp T, Georgalas I, Georgiadou E, Moschos M, Thanos S (2006) Intraocular pressure changes during high-altitude acclimatization. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 244:298–304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Somner JE, Morris DS, Scott KM, MacCormick IJ, Aspinall P, Dhillon B (2007) What happens to intraocular pressure at high altitude? Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 48:1622–1626

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Mills MD, Devenyi RG, Lam WC, Berger AR, Beijer CD, Lam SR (2001) An assessment of intraocular pressure rise in patients with gas-filled eyes during simulated air flight. Ophthalmol 108:40–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bayer A, Yumuşak E, Sahin OF, Uysal Y (2004) Intraocular pressure measured at ground level and 10,000 feet. Aviat Space Environ Med 75:543–545

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cymerman A, Rock PB, Muza SR, Lyons TP, Fulco CS, Mazzeo RS, Butterfield G, Moore LG (2000) Intraocular pressure and acclimatization to 4300 M altitude. Aviat Space Environ Med 71:1045–1050

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Chatterjee SK, Chakraborty A (2001) Intraocular pressure changes and mountaineering–preliminary observations and possible application. J Assoc Physicians India 49:248–252

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Clarke C, Duff J (1976) Mountain sickness, retinal haemorrhages, and acclimatisation on Mount Everest in 1975. Br Med J 2:495–497

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Paulev PE, Zubieta-Calleja GR (2005) Essentials in the diagnosis of acid–base disorders and their high altitude application. J Physiol Pharmacol 4:155–170

    Google Scholar 

  11. Veglio M, Maule S, Cametti G, Cogo A, Lussiana L, Madrigale G, Pecchio O (1999) The effects of exposure to moderate altitude on cardiovascular autonomic function in normal subjects. Clin Auton Res 9:123–127

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Brinchmann-Hansen O, Myhre K (1989) Blood pressure, intraocular pressure, and retinal vessels after high altitude mountain exposure. Aviat Space Environ Med 60:970–976

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lempert P, Cooper KH, Culver JF, Tredici TJ (1967) The effect of exercise on intraocular pressure. Am J Ophthalmol 63:1673–1676

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Passo MS, Goldberg L, Elliot DL, Van Buskirk EM (1991) Exercise training reduces intraocular pressure among subjects suspected of having glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 109:1096–1098

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Becker B (1960) Hypothermia and aqueous humor dynamics in the rabbit eye. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 58:337

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Pollack IP, Becker B, Constant MA (1960) The effect of hypothermia on aqueous humor dynamics: I. Intraocular pressure and outflow facility of the rabbit eye. Am J Ophthalmol 49:1126

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ortiz GJ, Cook DJ, Yablonski ME, Masonson H, Harmon G (1988) Effect of cold air on aqueous humor dynamics in humans. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 29:138–140

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Brinchmann-Hansen O, Myhre K, Sandvik L (1989) Retinal vessel responses to exercise and hypoxia before and after high altitude acclimatisation. Eye (Lond) 3:768–7619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Bosch MM, Barthelmes D, Merz TM, Knecht PB, Truffer F, Bloch KE, Thiel MA, Petrig BL, Turk AJ, Schoch OD, Hefti U, Landau K (2010) New insights into changes in corneal thickness in healthy mountaineers during a very-high-altitude climb to Mount Muztagh Ata. Arch Ophthalmol 128(2):184–189

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Neuburger M, Maier P, Böhringer D, Reinhard T, Friedrich Jordan J (2012) The Impact of Corneal Edema on Intraocular Pressure Measurements Using Goldmann Applanation Tonometry, Tono-Pen XL, iCare, and ORA: An In Vitro Model. J GlaucomaFeb 24. [Epub ahead of print]

Download references

Acknowledgment

We thank Laurie Dustin for statistical analysis. We also thank Clinic Markazi Shahr for their support.

No financial interest to declare

This study was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The authors have full control of all primary data and they agree to allow Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review the data upon request

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Hossein Nazari, Naveed Nilforushan, Ahad Sedaghat, Reza Soudi, Alireza Irani & Arjang Gordiz

  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy (Pharmacotherapy), School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Shima Hatamkhani

  3. 1355 San Pablo Street, DVRC211, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA

    Hossein Nazari

Authors
  1. Hossein Nazari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Naveed Nilforushan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ahad Sedaghat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Reza Soudi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Alireza Irani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Arjang Gordiz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Shima Hatamkhani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hossein Nazari.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nazari, H., Nilforushan, N., Sedaghat, A. et al. Intraocular pressure after exposure to moderate altitude. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 251, 123–127 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-012-2050-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-012-2050-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation