Abstract
Purpose :
Greater visual field (VF) damage has been associated with decreased PA. Here we want to determine: (1) The feasibility of increasing activity levels in patients with glaucoma. (2) To explore if increased PA is associated with improvements in VF.
Methods :
Participants were 18 years or older, diagnosed with glaucoma, and had VF damage between 5 and 25 dB in at least one eye. During the 6-month study participants came for baseline, 3-, and 6-month visits. Participants were asked to wear a Fitbit Charge 2 accelerometer and were expected to increase their physical activity by 500 steps each week until they reached 10,000 steps/day or increased their activity by at least 50% above baseline. VF testing was done for each eye separately during each study visit. Linear regression models were used to determine change in the mean deviation (MD) for each eye and change in the number of steps (PA), over the course of 6 months (3 study visits) in each participant. Generalized estimating equation model was used for the correlation between two eyes to assess association between the change in the MD and PA during the study.
Results :
33 participants were included in the analysis with a (mean age of 61±14.4 years); half were male (49%) and 18% were Black. Average first week (baseline) steps were 4,208 (SD=3,234). By week 3 most of the participants increased the PA to desired level (average steps/week 6,602 [SD=2,613]), by week 7 average PA was 7,580 steps/week (SD=3,012), and average steps/week between weeks 7 and 24 were 7,693 (SD=3,504).On average, PA increased by 510 steps/week in first 7 weeks after which the activity increases were minimal (1.6 steps/week). Average change in MD was -0.28±5.13 decibels (dB) per year over the study period. No association between change in PA and change in MD was noted over the study period (p=0.62).
Conclusions :
Study participants were able to increase their PA to the desired level within the three weeks of the study and retain the level of this activity for the remainder of the 6 months. However, increased PA was not associated with the changes in the MD. Further studies are needed to investigate this relationship, possibly introducing a more vigorous form of exercise.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.