Abstract
Purpose:
Several mechanical factors, beyond intraocular pressure (IOP), have been described as contributors to glaucoma progression. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) and IOP are correlated with scleral rigidity (SR) and axial length (AL) in medically treated eyes of patients with both arterial hypertension and primary open angle glaucoma.
Methods:
Ninety eyes of 90 adult glaucomatous subjects with arterial hypertension controlled with drugs were randomly evaluated. Dynamic contour tonometer (DCT, Pascal®) was used to determine OPA and IOP. IOP was also measured with Goldmann applanation and Schiotz tonometers and these measurements were used to calculate SR. The relationship between mean OPA with AL and SR was evaluated through linear regression analysis and correlation tests.
Results:
Mean (±SD) values of DCT, OPA, SR and AL observed were 12.64±3.52 mmHg, 2.12±0.89 mmHg, 0.018±0.008 (arbitrary unit) and 23.34±1.62 mm, respectively. Spearman correlation tests showed significant correlation between both SR and OPA (r= -0.33, P=0.0013) and between SR and DCT readings (r=-0.27, P=0.0103). No significant correlation was observed between other parameters evaluated.
Conclusions:
Based on our results, OPA and IOP readings measured with DCT were inversely related to SR. Although those parameters did not correlate with AL, mechanical factors attributed to cornea and sclera may interfere with IOP dynamics and should be further studied in several clinical conditions of normal and glaucomatous eyes.
Keywords: 628 optic flow •
708 sclera