Choroidal thickness changes after dynamic exercise as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Purpose:To measure the choroidal thickness (CT) after dynamic exercise by using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT).Materials and Methods:A total of 19 healthy participants performed 10 min of low-impact, moderate-intensity exercise (i.e., riding a bicycle ergometer) and were examined with EDI-OCT. Each participant was scanned before exercise and afterward at 5 min and 15 min. CT measurement was taken at the fovea and 1000 μ away from the fovea in the nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior regions. Retinal thickness, intraocular pressure, ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), heart rate, and mean blood pressure (mBP) were also measured.Results:A significant increase occurred in OPP and mBP at 5 min and 15 min following exercise (P ˂ 0.05). The mean subfoveal CT at baseline was 344.00 ± 64.71 μm compared to 370.63 ± 66.87 μm at 5 min and 345.31 ± 63.58 μm at 15 min after exercise. CT measurements at all locations significantly increased at 5 min following exercise compared to the baseline (P ˂ 0.001), while measurements at 15 min following exercise did not significant differ compared to the baseline (P ˃ 0.05). There was no significant difference in retinal thickness at any location before and at 5 min and 15 min following exercise (P ˃ 0.05).Conclusion:Findings revealed that dynamic exercise causes a significant increase in CT for at least 5 min following exercise.

Effects of Exercise on the Structure and Circulation of Choroid in Normal Eyes

“…After a rest period of 20 minutes, the measurements of the systemic and ocular examinations at the baseline were performed [12,22]. All examinations were performed in the sitting position in the following sequence at each time point.…”

“…The results of a recent study using the enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) showed that there was a significant increase in the choroidal thickness after exercise [12], but others did not find any significant changes in the thickness after the exercise [2, 13]. Because the choroid does not have a distinct layer-by-layer architecture, the changes of either the luminal or stromal areas of the choroid after exercise have not been determined.…”

State of science: Choroidal thickness and systemic health

“…6 During cerebrospinal fluid shunting from the brain ventricle, the intraventricular intracranial pressure gradually decreased in a linear fashion together with the optic nerve subarachnoid space pressure 6 but when the intracranial pressure fell below a critical breakpoint, optic nerve subarachnoid space pressure remained constant despite further intracranial pressure decline. 6 The authors interpreted this as a sign of cerebrospinal fluid communication arrest between the intracranial and optic nerve subarachnoid spaces. 6 Indeed, when intracranial pressure drops too low, the breakpoint is reached and cerebrospinal fluid flow stops.…”

“…6 The authors interpreted this as a sign of cerebrospinal fluid communication arrest between the intracranial and optic nerve subarachnoid spaces. 6 Indeed, when intracranial pressure drops too low, the breakpoint is reached and cerebrospinal fluid flow stops. 6 This means that the intracranial pressure is too low for cerebrospinal fluid to freely flow through the optic canal.…”

The world is your oyster!

“…In fact, on analyzing papers published in IJO in 2015, we found that out of the top four papers that have been cited the most times since their publication, two of them are from India and two of them are from abroad which is shows that regardless of the country of origin, ultimately it is only science that matters. [1234]…”