RESUMO
Purpose: To determine the distribution of intraocular pressure [IOP] and its association with age, gender and refractive error in non-glaucomatous Saudi participants
Design: Hospital-based cross-sectional observational study during Vision Day Screening Program. Participants: 458 participants living in the Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Methods: Recruited participants [aged 20 years or over] underwent a comprehensive questionnaire and ocular examination, including measurement of IOP with Perkins hand-held applanation tonometry and autorefraction
Main outcome measures: The distribution of IOP of either of the eyes [right or left eye by randomization] and associations with age, gender and refractive error
Results: Median IOP was 15.0 [range: 6-28] mmHg in the total population. There is no significant difference between the overall IOP of male participants, median 15 [range: 6-28] mmHg and female participants, median 16 [range: 6-28] mmHg [p = 0.180]. No statistically significant difference in IOP in relation to age comparing 20-45 years group to 46-69 years group was documented [p = 0.751]. There was no statistically significant relationship between refractive error category and IOP [p = 0.405]. Ocular hypertension with IOP > 21 mmHg was found in 8.7% of the participants
Conclusion: Variation in IOP by gender, age group and type of refractive error was not statistically significant. The observations need confirmation by study with larger sample representing Saudi population