The relationship between self-reported habitual exercise and visual field defect progression: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background: Exercise reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) in the short term. However, it is not known whether exercise contributes to slower glaucomatous visual field defect progression. Methods: Twenty-four primary open-angle glaucoma or exfoliation glaucoma patients who were evaluated by the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) 24-2 program ≥ four times in 3 years were enrolled. Patients with a history of intraocular surgery in past 3 years or other eye diseases threatening visual fields were excluded. Patients were classified into two groups whether they had exercise habits or not. Results: Eleven patients had exercise habits. The mean ± standard error of IOP and MD slope were 14.8 ± 0.9 mmHg and +0.20 ± 0.20 dB/year in the exercise group and 13.3 ± 0.8 mmHg and -0.53 ± 0.18 dB/year in the non-exercise group (P = 0.24 and P = 0.01, respectively). Higher IOP [odds ratio (OR) = 0.44/1 mmHg increase; P = 0.02] and habitual exercise (OR = 0.04; P = 0.02) reduced the visual field defect progression risk in logistic regression analyses. Conclusions: Patients with self-reported exercise habits had slower glaucoma progression.