Visual system effects of exercise on Mauna Kea at 2,200 and 4,200 meters altitude

Author:

Schmeisser, Elmar T., Gagliano, Donald L.

Title:

Visual system effects of exercise on Mauna Kea at 2,200 and 4,200 meters altitude

Periodical:

Military Medicine

Year:

1997

Volume:

162

Pages:

186-189

Subject:

Altitude mountain sickness (AMS) Exercise

Summary:

Since visual effects were demonstrated to be one of the earliest indicators of physiological change in the 1970s, the deleterious effects of high altitude on vision such as retinal hemorrhages and visual disturbances are discussed in this article. This issue was studied because while it seemed proven that high altitudes affects vision, the extent to which moderate altitudes produced significant performance effects on soldiers, who were engaged in common military tasks, was less obvious. In addition, it was questioned as to whether exercise would compound the problems of high altitude adjustment for individuals who were acclimated to sea level and whether or not they might be quickly sent in a crisis situation even at relatively low elevations. As a result, field exercise studies were performed on different sets of young male volunteers at two altitudes, (2,200 and 4,200 m), during which time visual function indices were measured both at sea level and during a strenuous exercise regime at altitude.

Label:

Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS)

Collection:

Periodicals