Trumpet tension

Intraocular pressure fluctuations assessment in professional wind instrument players

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Due to the long-time that wind musicians spend playing their instruments, it is important to investigate if intraocular pressure could be affected by this activity.

BACKGROUND

To assess the intraocular pressure fluctuations and fluctuations affecting factors in professional wind musicians while playing different tones.

METHODS

Thirty professional wind musicians (23.0 ± 3.20 years) were recruited from the Professional Music College of A Coruña. A questionnaire about environmental/demographic factors was given to participants. Intraocular pressure was measured four times by ICare IC100 tonometer: before, during low and high-pitched tones, and immediately after stopping playing the wind instrument.

RESULTS

Pairwise comparison revealed statistical differences between measurement points (Sidak, all p ≤ 0.019), except between before playing and while playing low-pitched tones (Sidak, p = 1.000). Intraocular pressure increases during high pitch playing and decreases after stopping playing. No significant differences in intraocular pressure fluctuation were reported between physically active (>2 days/week) and non-physically active participants (Unpaired t-test, p = 0.680). All intraocular pressure values were positively correlated (Pearson's correlation, all r ≥ 0.505, p ≤ 0.004). Intraocular pressure fluctuations were negatively correlated with musical playing years (Pearson's correlation, r = - 0.396, p = 0.030). There were no significant correlations among intraocular pressure fluctuation and gender, age, weight, height, or daily time playing (Pearson's correlation, all p ≥ 0.058).

CONCLUSION

Professional wind musicians suffer intraocular pressure peaks while playing high-pitched tones; therefore, ocular fundus evaluation and visual campimetry should be performed as routine tests in the visual exam of this population.

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