Aim: To examine the acute effects of wearing swimming goggles upon intraocular pressure (IOP).
Methods: This research consisted of a Pilot study and a Validation study. Holes were drilled into the faces of 13 different goggles to allow IOP measurement by applanation tonometry. IOP was measured before goggles wear, 2 min after goggles application, 20 min after goggles application and after goggles removal. The Pilot study (n = 15) was initially performed to investigate changes in IOP while wearing five different types of swimming goggles. Anatomical and goggles design parameters from the Pilot study were then used to generate a predictive model and design a Validation study (n = 20). The Validation study tested the predictive model, examined IOP changes using another eight goggles and clarified whether IOP changes were sustained for the duration of goggles wear.
Results: IOP increased while wearing goggles by a mean pressure of 4.5 mm Hg (SD 3.7, p<0.001) with this pressure rise being sustained for the duration of goggles wear. A smaller goggles face area (p = 0.013), was consistently associated with greater IOP elevation.
Conclusion: These measurements were not taken while swimming, but they suggest that some swimming goggles can elevate IOP.