Abstract
Purpose :
To determine whether punctate superficial keratitis affects the intraocular pressure (IOP) measured with the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) and a noncontact tonometer (NCT).
Methods :
We reviewed the medical records of cases in which the IOP was measured with both the GAT and NCT on the same day. In addition, the central corneal thickness and corneal radius had been determined in these eyes. The cases were divided into two groups in which SPK was present in the pupillary area and a second group in which there was no SPK. We examined whether there was a significant difference in the IOP measured with the GAT and NCT in the 2 groups. Patients with corneal astigmatism >2 diopters were excluded. The IOP values were corrected by the central corneal thickness.
Results :
Twenty-four eyes with SPK (each eye measured up to 2 times if there was a measurement on another day) and 24 eyes without SPK were analyzed. The mean age was 71.7 ± 14.8 in the SPK group and 76.9 ± 14.1 years in the non-SPK group (P=0.33). The average central corneal thickness was 512±25 in the SPK group and 524±33 μm in the non-SPK group (P=0.13). The average radius of curvature was 7.63 ± 0.18 in the SPK group and 7.56 ± 0.24 mm in the non-SPK group (P=0.47). The average IOP with the GAT was 14.5 ± 4.2 mmHg in the SPK group which was significantly lower than the 16.5 ± 4.5 mmHg in the non-SPK group (P = 0.025). The average IOP with the NCT was 13.1±4.3 mmHg in the SPK group and 12.7 ± 3.1 mmHg in the non-SPK group(P=0.64). The difference in the IOP measurements between GAT and NCT was 1.4 ± 2.8 mmHg on the average in the SPK group and 3.8 ± 3.2 mmHg in the non-SPK group, which was significantly lower in the SPK group (P<0.01).
Conclusions :
It was shown that the difference in intraocular pressure measured by GAT and NCT was even smaller in cases where SPK was found in the central cornea than in cases without SPK.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.