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Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:1218-1221 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.136754
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Wearing swimming goggles can elevate intraocular pressure

  1. W H Morgan,
  2. T S Cunneen,
  3. C Balaratnasingam,
  4. D-Y Yu
  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia, Western Australia, Australia
  1. Dr W H Morgan, Lions Eye Institute, Verdun Street, Nedlands 6009, Western Australia, Australia; whmorgan{at}cyllene.uwa.edu.au
  • Accepted 14 June 2008
  • Published Online First 11 July 2008

Abstract

Aim: To examine the acute effects of wearing swimming goggles upon intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods: This research consisted of a Pilot study and a Validation study. Holes were drilled into the faces of 13 different goggles to allow IOP measurement by applanation tonometry. IOP was measured before goggle wear, 2 min after goggle application, 20 min after goggle application and after goggle removal. The Pilot study (n = 15) was initially performed to investigate changes in IOP while wearing five different types of swimming goggles. Anatomical and goggle design parameters from the Pilot study were then used to generate a predictive model and design a Validation study (n = 20). The Validation study tested the predictive model, examined IOP changes using another eight goggles and clarified whether IOP changes were sustained for the duration of goggle wear.

Results: IOP increased while wearing goggles by a mean pressure of 4.5 mm Hg (SD 3.7, p<0.001) with this pressure rise being sustained for the duration of goggle wear. A smaller goggle face area (p = 0.013), was consistently associated with greater IOP elevation.

Conclusion: These measurements were not taken while swimming, but they suggest that some swimming goggles can elevate IOP.

Footnotes

  • Funding: The McCusker Glaucoma Centre, and National Health and Medical Research Council programme grant 211901 provided financial support.

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: The study was approved by the University of Western Australia Human Ethics Committee and was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

Responses to this article

  • Swimming goggles and elevated intraocular pressure
    • Nathan M Radcliffe,
    • Christopher Starr
    Br J Ophthalmol published online August 6, 2009
  • Authors Response
    • William H Morgan,
    • Thomas S Cunneen, Chandrakumar Balaratnasingam, Dao Yi-Yu
    Br J Ophthalmol published online August 6, 2009

This Article

  1. Abstract
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  4. All Versions of this Article:
    1. bjo.2007.136754v1
    2. 92/9/1218 most recent

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