Effect of Eating Habits During Fasting Versus After Fasting on Biometric Parameters and Intra Ocular Pressure

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effect of eating habits during fasting versus three months after fasting on biometric parameters and intra ocular pressure.

Method: A Prospective observational study was done at institute of ophthalmology COAVS (College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences) Mayo Hospital, Lahore. By using non-probability convenient sampling, 158 healthy participants who had no history of ocular or systemic diseases and a normal ocular status aged 20-30 years were included. Ocular parameters comprised intraocular pressure, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and central corneal thickness were measured by using standardized instruments. Each measurement was made twice, once during the Ramadan fast and once three-month after Ramadan. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 27 and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: In this study 158 individuals were enrolled among those 61 (39%) were male and 97 (61%) were female with mean age of 24.5 & SD ± 2.6. The difference of IOP between both measurements was significant (during Ramadan: RE=13.9, LE=14.2 however 3-month post Ramadan: RE & LE=14.9) as the p-value was < 0.001. In contrast, biometric parameters including CCT, ACD, and AXL did not show any significant alteration between two observations because the p-value was > 0.05.

Conclusion: Fasting significantly lowers intraocular pressure, but it has no effect on biometric measurements (CCT, ACD, and AXL). Therefore, fasting has no effect on the structural integrity of the eye, but it does change the dynamics of ocular pressure.