The assesment of acute retinal and choroidal changes due to heavy physical exercise
Szalai Irén Etelka
Clinical Medicine
Dr. Reusz György
SE Szemészeti Klinika Mária utcai tanterme
2024-02-05 14:30:00
Ophthalmology
Dr. Nagy Zoltán Zsolt
Dr. Somfai Gábor Márk
Dr. Lesch Balázs
Dr. Hargitai János
Dr. Szabó Dóra
Dr. Fodor Eszter
Dr. Körtvélyes Judit
According to current evidence, regular physical activity appears to have several beneficial effects on the retina, choroid, and visual function, effectively counterbalancing the detrimental consequences associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
The primary focus of our research was on the immediate chorioretinal changes after intense physical exercise. Our results revealed immediate alterations within the granular layers of the retina characterized by an initial thinning followed by rebound thickening and full recovery within 30 minutes. Notably, these changes were less expressed in older subjects in comparison to young adults, but they were inarguably visible as a trend.
Interestingly, the choroid, which plays an important role in outer retinal physiology, appeared not to be involved in these changes, as it showed no immediate response during intense physical strain. This result also implies that fundamental physiological mechanisms are at play in the choroid, maintaining consistent morphological parameters even under extreme physiological conditions.
We hypothesize that a combination of acute stress-induced vascular changes in the inner part of the retina coupled with biomechanical effects on the outer retina as a consequence of increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and metabolic mechanisms might underlie these effects.
The combination of our findings in both young and older adults could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of how physical exercise can influence the retinal pathophysiology of several retinal disorders, a matter of growing significance given the aging demographics of our societies.
We hope that our findings will encourage the development of guidelines promoting an active lifestyle to preserve eye health. Furthermore, our results could potentially facilitate the implementation of tailored preventive care strategies, ensuring individualized attention to eye health preservation and thus reducing the individual and social burden of non-communicable eye diseases.
