Purpose:
To determine whether intraocular pressure (IOP) asymmetry between fellow eyes may be used to help diagnose the presence of open - angle glaucoma (OAG).
Methods:
One hundred and ninety eight subjects were analyzed, including 100 normal subjects and 98 subjects with open - angle glaucoma. Different levels of IOP asymmetry were assessed for their association with OAG.
Results:
IOP asymmetry (the absolute value of right minus left eye) in subjects with OAG was statistically significant from those without OAG (P = 0.01, OR 2.0). No glaucoma patient had complete IOP symmetry, whereas 34% of normals had the same IOP in both eyes. (P=0.000, Χ2= 42.132). 17 cases of glaucoma (17%) had an asymmetry of IOP greater than 6mmHg, however, no normal subject had that amount (P=0.000, Fisher’s exact test, Χ2= 16.83).
Conclusions:
Intraocular pressure asymmetry, especially when absent or marked, can help to rule in or rule out the diagnosis of open - angle glaucoma (OAG).
Keywords: intraocular pressure