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Intraocular pressure changes during high-altitude acclimatization

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

To evaluate the relationship between hypobaric hypoxia acclimatization and intraocular pressure (IOP) during ascent, acclimatization, and descent between 2286 m and 5050 m.

Methods

The following acclimatization-indicative physiological parameters were compared daily with IOP changes in eight healthy climbers of the 2003 Greek Karakorum expedition in altitude stages between 500 m and 5050 m: hemoglobin oxygen saturation (PO2), resting heart rate, blood pressure, retinal findings, and the Lake Louise score for acclimatization grading.

Results

IOP decreased significantly in the ascent phase (0.58 mmHg/100 m) and recovered (0.71 mmHg/100 m) during acclimatization and descent. A direct proportional correlation between decreases in PO2 and IOP was evaluated. Arterial blood pulse and pressure increased during acclimatization, while IOP decreased. No retinal hemorrhages were observed in well-acclimatized and incompletely acclimatized climbers.

Conclusions

Every new active exposure to hypobaric hypoxia in the ascent phase induced a decrease in the IOP parallel to the PO2 decrease and to the level of acclimatization. The results from our study suggest that IOP changes are related to hypoxia-induced respiratory alkalosis and acclimatization stage, which could be used as a simple mobile screening test for acclimatization level to reveal acute mountain sickness and its severe consequences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital of Münster, Domagkstrasse 15, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Mitrofanis Pavlidis, Tobias Stupp & Solon Thanos

  2. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK

    Ilias Georgalas

  3. University Eye Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Evi Georgiadou & Michail Moschos

Authors
  1. Mitrofanis Pavlidis
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  2. Tobias Stupp
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  3. Ilias Georgalas
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  4. Evi Georgiadou
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  5. Michail Moschos
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  6. Solon Thanos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitrofanis Pavlidis.

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Pavlidis, M., Stupp, T., Georgalas, I. et al. Intraocular pressure changes during high-altitude acclimatization. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmo 244, 298–304 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-1174-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-1174-1

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