Researchers from the Institute of Specialized Ophthalmology in Brazil have found that weightlifters have a greater risk of developing glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease of the eye in which fluid that normally flows in and out of the eye drains too slowly. Pressure inside the eyeball builds up. This increased pressure can damage the optic nerve, the retina, or other parts of the eye.
30 male weightlifters were asked to hold their breath for half of their bench press exercises, and to breath normally for the other half. Testing showed showed that when the weightlifters held their breath pressure in the eye increased significantly.
The weightlifters included in the study aged between 18 and 40 years had healthy eye pressures prior to testing. 90% experienced high eyeball pressures that rose by nearly 25% (4.3 mm of mercury). When the volunteers breathed normally eye pressure rose 2.2 mm of mercury in 62% of weightlifters.
Previous studies have shown that people who experience frequent changes in eyeball pressure are more likely to have normal-tension glaucoma.
Article Source: Geraldo Magela Vieira, MD; Hildeamo Bonifácio Oliveira, MSD; Daniel Tavares de Andrade, MSD; Martim Bottaro, PhD; Robert Ritch, MD. September 2006 Archives of Ophthalmology
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