Swimming goggles increase IOP

A study published in the September issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology, has discovered that wearing swimming goggles may elevate intraocular pressure (IOP).

W.H. Morgan and colleagues from the Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia, Australia conducted a study to determine whether wearing swimming goggles increases IOP.

Holes were drilled into 13 different goggles to allow IOP measurement by applanation tonometry. IOP measurements were taken before goggle wear, two minutes after the goggles were put on, 20 minutes after and following the removal of the goggles.

It was discovered that IOP increased by a mean pressure of 4.5 mmHg (p<0.001) while goggles were being worn, with the pressure being sustained for the duration. It was also found that a smaller goggle face area (p=0.013) was associated with greater IOP elevations.

Although measurements were not taken while swimming, the results of this study indicate that wearing goggles will elevate IOP.