The effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing on intraocular pressure in healthy sportsmen

Abstract

Nasal cycle, which is regulated by sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, is a simultaneous congestion-decongestion response in the nasal cavity. This shows a dynamic lateralisation of the autonomic nervous system. It is suggested that unilateral forced nostril breathing (UFNB) selectively produced hemispheric stimulation in the opposite side. In this study, we investigated the effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing (UFNB) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy sportsmen. After baseline applanation tonometric testing with prior instillation of topical anesthetic 43 voluntairs underwent 10 minutes right UFNB with the left nostril completely blocked by cotton packing. We measured IOPs and the voluntairs underwent 10 minutes left UFNB with the right nostril completely blocked by cotton packing. We measured IOPs again. There was a statistically significant decrease in IOPs after right UFNB and increase in IOPs after left UFNB.