ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Hypogravity as a risk factor for increased intraocular pressure

Valyakh MA1, Kats DV1, Glazko NG2, Baranov MV3
About authors

1 Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia

2 Filatov City Clinical Hospital № 15, Moscow, Russia

3 Research Institute for Space Medicine, Moscow, Russia

Correspondence should be addressed: Maxim A. Valyakh
Veshniakovskaya 23, Moscow, 111539; moc.liamg@hkaylavxam

About paper

Acknowledgement: the authors thank Kats DV, Cand. Sci (Med), Assistant Professor at the Department of Ophthalmology of Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, for revising the manuscript; Baranov MV Cand. Sci (Med), Vice Principal of Research Institute for Space Medicine, for helping with the recruitment process; Glazko NG, ophthalmologist at Filatov City Clinical Hospital No. 15, for his assistance with data analysis.

Author contribution: Valyakh MA — literature analysis, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, manuscript preparation; Glazko NG — data analysis; Baranov MV — recruitment of participants; Kats DV — manuscript revision.

Received: 2019-06-03 Accepted: 2019-06-17 Published online: 2019-06-19
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Space medicine has long studied the impact of reduced gravity on the human body. Increasing complaints of insufficient visual acuity during and after space flights have been recently drawing a lot of attention to the effects of hypogravity on astronauts’ vision. Abnormally high intraocular pressure (IOP) is one of the most clinically important changes occurring during space missions. It is a serious condition that often causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve and blindness. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of reduced gravity on IOP. The study recruited 48 young healthy men with the mean age of 22 years, who formed 2 equally sized groups. In the experimental group, hypogravity was simulated by placing the subjects into the orthostatic position for 21 days. IOP was measured at 4 time points using a Maklakov tonometer. Z-approximation of the Wilcoxon T test was applied. The average increase in IOP in the experimental group was 3.42 ± 0.03 mmHg (р < 0.01). The changes were, however, transient, and IOP levels went back to normal right after the exposure to hypogravity conditions was terminated.

Keywords: orthostatic body position, hypogravity, space flight, intraocular pressure

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