Abstract
Purpose: :
The ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) is the difference between mean minimum and mean maximum of pulse curve which is calculated automatically by the instrument during each IOP measurement. In this study we evaluated the OPA in healthy subjects and in primary open angle glaucomatous patients by Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer (DCT).
Methods: :
This is a prospective cross-sectional study. One hundred sixty two eyes were selected for study; 90normal and 72 glaucomatous. Glaucomatous patients had to be under treatment with either a prostaglandin or a β-blocker in a monoteraphy regimen. Normal subjects had to have normal visual field and optic nerve head, untreated intraocular pressure below 21 mmHg, no family history of glaucoma. Glaucomatous patients had typical glaucomatous visual field defects, abnormal ONH assessed using stereovieu with a volk 90° lens, open angle by gonioscopy. Student’s t-test was used for the statistical analysis of the results.
Results: :
The mean age was 61.71±16.22 (mean ± SD) years and 69.62±13.33 years, respectively, and no significant difference was found. A statistically significant (p<0.001) difference was found for OPAbetween healthy (9.77±1.14 mmHg) and glaucomatous (2.96±1.06 mmHg) eyes. There was no significant difference in the mean OPA values between subjects treated with beta-blockers (2.96±1.46 mmHg) and prostaglandin (2.96±0.85 mmHg).
Conclusions: :
The OPA was significantly higher in normal eyes whereas it was lower in glaucomatous patients.
Keywords: optic flow • intraocular pressure