Weight Lifting And Glaucoma

Can weightlifting lead to eye problems?

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the leading cause for developing Glaucoma, a vision impairment that can lead to partial or full vision loss. Studies made in recent years have shown a significant increase in pressure within the eye when weightlifting or performing isometric exercise. This leads to the question: Can weightlifting lead to eye problems?

Two studies – “Intraocular Pressure Variation During Weight Lifting” funded by the NY Glaucoma Research Institute in 2006, and Intraocular Pressure Increases in Parallel with Systemic Blood Pressure during Isometric Exercise by The University of Olso, Norway in 2008 – have successfully proven the connection between an increased in IOP during isometric exercises and stressful lifting exercises, such as the bench press. And though the latter study was on a significantly smaller scale, both the studies confirmed the rise in IOP was significant when undertaking such activities.

However, it is not all types of weight lifting exercises or techniques used that increase IOP. A popular method to acquire the strength need to lift heavy weights is holding your breath. This stimulates balance, stability and focus on the engaged muscles, especially during the final repetitions of a set. What most body builders and gym exercisers do not understand is that by holding your breath while pressuring the body, there is a significant increase in the pressure within the eye.

This was confirmed by a Brazilian study, which also concludes that subjects who performed the exercise with constant breathing throughout the session will show a considerably lower increase in IOP while training.

Over three million people live with Glaucoma in America. This vision impairment is caused by an increase in intraocular pressure as a result of a build up of fluids inside the eye. If this pressure levels are consistent it can lead to damage of the optic nerve, ultimately resulting in compromised vision and glaucoma.

Symptoms are of this vision defect can include headaches, partial loss in peripheral vision, halos around lights and pain behind the eye ball.

In conclusion, even as several studies have been made on weightlifting and increased IOP, no direct link have been confirmed between this type of training, isometric exercise and Glaucoma. Glaucoma takes time to develop so it is not possible to determine a complete connection between the two. This eye condition is however is caused by IOP increase, and according to these studies, by performing this type of activity regularly there maybe a increased risk in developing it.

If you perhaps are diabetic, or have a history of vision problems within you family, to avoid or decrease the risk of getting Glaucoma, constant breathing during heavy training is strongly advised.

For more information, please contact your local optometrist or ophthalmologist. They will also be able to examine your eyes and measure current IOP levels. Lastly, an increase of Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet will also help reduce intraocular pressure, by as much as thirteen percent shown by some studies, which may help to combat the effects described above.

Author: Marcus De Vries

About the Author: I am a full time optometry student, part time freelance writer, and one time world traveler, with a need to spread knowledge!
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Last Updated: Jul 13th 2009

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