Abstract

JAEN-DIAZ, J.I. et al. Diurnal variability of intraocular pressure. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol [online]. 2007, vol.82, n.11, pp.675-679. ISSN 0365-6691.

Objective: To assess whether there are variations in the intraocular pressure (IOP) between the morning and afternoon in healthy subjects. Methods: This study was carried out in a Primary Care Health Center among usual patients of general practitioners. Two measurements of the intraocular pressure were assessed on the same day (between 8 and 9 a.m. and between 5 and 6 p.m.) using a Perkins applanation tonometer. The subjects (119 females and 101 males) had a mean age of 46.3 years, with ages ranging between 14 and 83 years. They were proportionally distributed among 4 age groups (14-24, 25-44, 45-64 and >65 years). Results: The IOP mean values were: right eye, morning time and afternoon, 13.29 and 11.81 mm Hg, respectively (p<0.001); left eye, morning time and afternoon, 13.48 and 12.04 mm Hg (p<0.001). The IOP was significantly higher in males than in females, and showed a weak association with age. Conclusions: We found a diurnal variation of IOP of approximately 1.5 mm Hg. The time of day when the IOP is measured needs to be considered as a variable in research in ocular hypertension and glaucoma.

Keywords : Intraocular pressure; glaucoma; variability; tonometry; Primary Care.

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