An assessment of intraocular pressure change in healthy subjects during air flight.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of air flight on intraocular pressure (IOP).


METHODS
Baseline IOP of 25 healthy volunteers was measured at a ground level of 1760 feet above sea level (ASL) using Tono-Pen XL. Measurements were repeated after reaching an altitude of 19,000 feet and then on the second hour during a routine flight. Cabin pressure was kept around 8000 feet. IOP measurement was repeated after landing (3.5 hr after taking off). Change in the IOP was evaluated.


RESULTS
Mean +/- SD IOP was 14.2 +/- 2.7 mmHg at ground level and was 14.0 +/- 2.2 mmHg after gaining maximum altitude (p = 0.78). Mean IOP dropped to 12.3 +/- 2.5 mmHg on the second hour of flight and 12.0 +/- 1.7 mmHg after landing. Decrease in IOP on the second hour (13.4%, p = 0.005) and after landing (15.7%, p = 0.001) were significant.


CONCLUSIONS
IOP significantly decreased on the second hour measurements during a routine flight, and this change was sustained after landing.
Bayer
Atilla
A
GATA School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. atillabayer@hotmail.com
Mutlu
Fatih Mehmet
FM
Akay
Fahrettin
F
Bayraktar
Mehmet Zeki
MZ
D000328:Adult; D000401:Aircraft; D000531:Altitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors