# Changes in intraocular pressure before, during, and after playing Thai Traditional, Thai Folk, and Western wind instruments

## TL;DR

This study compared how playing different wind instruments affects eye pressure and found no significant differences between Thai and Western instruments.

## Contribution

The study is the first to compare IOP changes across Thai traditional, Thai folk, and Western wind instruments.

## Key findings

- All wind instrument groups showed a temporary increase in IOP during playing.
- IOP returned to baseline levels within 30 seconds after playing.
- No significant differences in IOP were found between the three instrument types.

## Abstract

To compare and evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) during and after playing Thai traditional (TT), Thai folk (TF), and Western (WT) wind instruments.

Three types of wind instruments were used: Thai traditional, Thai folk, and Western, played by three groups of players according to an identical set of notes for 120 seconds. Five IOP measurements were performed before, during (37 and 101 seconds), and after (150 and 240 seconds) playing the instruments. Primary outcomes were differences in IOP between groups during the performance. Secondary outcomes were differences in IOP between groups after the performance. A mixed-effect model for repeated measures (MMRM) was used for statistical analysis.

Thirty eyes from 15 participants were included, with mean (SD) baseline IOP of 13.3 (2.7), 12.3 (1.5), and 14.5 (2.4) mmHg in WT, TT, and TF groups (P = 0.53). No significant differences in overall IOP change were observed between TT (coefficient −1.2 mmHg; 95% CI −3.5 to 1.1, P = 0.40) or TF (0.3; −2.1 to 2.8, 0.82) compared to WT group. During the performance (from baseline to 101 seconds), IOP increased significantly in WT (3.1, 0.6 to 5.7, 0.007) and TT groups (2.8, 0.2 to 5.3, 0.02), while TF group did not show a significant increase. However, no significant differences were found when comparing among the three groups. After the performance (150 seconds), mean IOP differences between groups were small and were not significantly different.

The three types of wind instruments demonstrated no significant differences in IOP elevation during or after performance. While a transient increase in IOP was observed during playing in all groups, IOP returned to baseline within 30 seconds after the performance.