ABSTRACT
Aim of the work: this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the Intraocular Pressure[IOP] readings measured by Goldmaan Tonometry and the amount of corneal astigmatism in healthy young subjects and to assess the reliability of the measurements obtained with the instruments
Method: intraocular pressure measurements were obtained by Goldmann Applanation Tonometer [GAT] [Haag-Streit International, Koeniz, Switzerland], while keratometry readings for corneal curvature were obtained by an Auto-Kerato-Refractometer [ARK-KR.8800, Topcon, Tokyo, Japan]. An interval was kept between the keratometric measurements and the IOP measurements. The sequence of measurement was randomized with all participants. Three measurements were taken within ten minutes and the reading was set to one immediately after any measurement were taken
Result: the average age of the volunteers was 22.4 +/- 1.5 years [mean age +/- SD; range: 20-26 years]. Mean Intraocular Pressure [IOP] of the right and left eyes in the first visit [Paired t-test: P = 0.6471] and second visit [Paired t-test: P = 0.5805]. The session one means GAT; IOP was 16.48 +/- 3.33 mmHg and 16.59 +/- 3.47mmHg [right and left eye respectively], while in session two it was15.714 +/- 3.10 mmHg and 15.82 +/- 2.76 [right and left eye respectively]. The mean corneal astigmatism was -0.24 +/- 1.48D, -0.38 +/- 1.53 D, right and left respectively in the first visit and -0.34 +/- 1.44D, -0.40 +/- 1.64D right and left eye second visit respectively
Conclusion: the GAT-IOP was less affected by the amount of corneal astigmatism and GAT-IOP was not significantly higher in eyes with greater corneal astigmatism and the repeatability results, although the differences were stastistically significant, they were not clinically significant