Moderate Physical Activity Generates Changes in Retina and Choroid in Low-Fit Adults
Source abstract
Abstract
Physical activity has been shown to influence ocular health, yet the acute effects of exercise on retinal and choroidal structures remain underexplored. This prospective pre-post study evaluated 30 low-fit adults without diagnosed cardiovascular disease who underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic assessments, including OCT and OCTA imaging, before and after a submaximal aerobic capacity test. Statistically significant thinning was observed in specific retinal sectors, affecting both inner and outer layers, including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Vascular analysis using the OCTAVA toolbox revealed a significant post-exercise reduction in vessel length density, total vessel length, branchpoint density and fractal dimension in the peripapillary plexus; and mean tortuosity in the macular superficial vascular complex (SVC). Choroidal thickness also showed a significant reduction in several regions. No significant changes were found in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ). These findings suggest that acute submaximal physical activity induces transient yet measurable changes in retinal and choroidal microvasculature. The results have potential implications for understanding ocular vascular dynamics and for evaluating ocular health in clinical and sports medicine contexts.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Retinal Imaging and Analysis
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Ramon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, School of Medicine of Physical Education and Sport, School of Medicine, University Complutense of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Funding
the Basic Vision Sciences Research Group at the IIORC · Complutense University Of Madrid
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