The Impact of Acute Dynamic Exercise on Intraocular Pressure: Role of the β2-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 (VO2max) 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.