Age and intraocular pressure: how are they correlated?

ABSTRACT

The relationship between intraocular pressure and age in not fully understood. Intraocualr pressure may increase or decrease with age. Study was planned to determine the effect of aging on intraocular pressure of an apparently healthy population of Karachi. Depending upon age, 8036 subjects were divided into seven groups. All were examined according to standard protocols. Measurements were taken by Goldmann applanation tonometer, after a complete rest for atleast 15 minutes and always first in the right eye. Mean intraocular pressure increases progressively with age until 60 years. When one age group is compared with its preceding, the increase is non-significant until 40 years but highly significant [P<0.001] in the age groups of 41-50 and 51-60 years. The data shows non-significant decrease in the age group of 61-70 but an increase in the age group of above 70 years. This study supports the conclusion that as age increases, intraocular pressure also increases, with an average of 0.28 mmHg per decade. Knowledge of the normal range of intraocular pressure in various age groups will help glaucoma screeners