Intraocular pressure changes and mountaineering--preliminary observations and possible application.

ABSTRACT

Measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) has been suggested as an indirect way of assessing the intra cranial pressure (ICP) because of the anatomical relationship between the brain and the eyeball. Mountain-sickness during high altitude climbing results from acute rise in ICP. In this preliminary study, we have observed gradual increase in IOP with gain in altitude in a group of healthy mountain trekkers. Although the rise in IOP had not been steep in most climbers who did not experience any significant symptoms, the rise had been steep into two subjects who experienced symptoms of acute mountain sickness with raised IOP. While clearly further work is needed in this field with larger number of subjects, measurement of IOP appears to be a useful non-invasive screening test in high altitude climbers to avert the risk of acute mountain sickness.