The Impact of Acute Dynamic Exercise on Intraocular Pressure: Role of the β 2 -Adrenergic Receptor Polymorphism

Abstract

Effects of mutations in the β₂-adrenergic receptor (β₂AR) gene on intraocular pressure (IOP), in response to acute dynamic exercise, were investigated in 19 healthy males (age 22.6 ± 2.8 years). Intraocular pressures were measured pre- and post-exercise. Weight, height, body mass index, and maximal oxygen (VO_2max) uptake were recorded and subjects were genotyped for Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu and Thr164Ile mutations of the β₂AR gene. Post-exercise, reductions in mean IOP values were found in 16 subjects with the Gly16Gly and Arg16Gly genotypes, but these values remained low in the eight patients with the Gly16Gly genotype 3 h post-exercise, whereas they returned to baseline within 1 h in the eight subjects with the Arg16Gly genotype. β₂AR stimulation during exercise could be an important regulator of IOP response and determining β₂AR polymorphisms may improve understanding of pathogenesis and treatment selection in ophthalmic diseases, e.g. glaucoma.