The Effect of Physical Activity on Anterior Segment Structures and the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer: A Comparison of Elite Athletes and Sedentary Individuals

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the effects of regular physical activity on ocular structures by comparing eye anterior segment structures and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) parameters between elite individual athletes and sedentary persons. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 75 participants (33 female and 42 male) aged 18-32 years. Participants consisted of 33 elite individual athletes (66 eyes) aged 18-32 years and 42 sedentary individuals (84 eyes) aged 18-28 years. The elite athlete group consisted of participants who had trained >= 3 times per week for the past 5 years and had competition experience in tennis (n = 11), badminton (n = 8), and short/middle distance running (n = 14). Sedentary participants had not engaged in regular physical activity for the last 2 years. Anterior segment structures were measured with ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), RNFL parameters were measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured with a non-contact pneumotonometer. Results: When the anterior segment parameters were compared, a significance was found in the group effect (p = 0.021, eta(2)(p) = 0.036) in the TIA500 value, but the effects of side and gender were insignificant (p > 0.05). While the gender effect was found to be significant for the AOD500 (p = 0.030, eta(2)(p)= 0.032) and ARA500 (p = 0.019, eta(2)(p)= 0.038) variables, the group and side effects were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference in IOP values between sedentary individuals (15.82 +/- 2.69) and athletes (14.61 +/- 1.80) (p = 0.004, eta(2)(p)= 0.057). There was a significant difference between the right (15.71 +/- 2.70) and left (14.87 +/- 2.02) sides (p = 0.027, eta(2)(p)= 0.033). The effect of gender was not significant (p > 0.05). When the results were evaluated, a significant effect of the TEMPORAL side in RNFL parameters (p = 0.003, eta(2)(p)= 0.058) was observed. Correlations were seen between the anterior segment and RNFL parameters in both groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Athletes exhibited lower IOP compared with sedentary individuals, with similar RNFL parameters but distinct correlation patterns with anterior segment structures. These findings suggest that ocular parameters should be evaluated in an integrated manner and that physical activity may support ocular health by contributing to IOP reduction and potentially slowing the progression of eye diseases.