Change of Values of Intraocular Pressures Measurements after Laser In Situ Keratomileusis

ABSTRACT

There have been reports of a reductioin in the intraocular pressure(IOP) measured with the Goldmann applanation tonometer(GAT) in eyes that have undergone excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK). The authors determined whether laser in-situ keratomileusis(LASIK) for myopia also affected GAT readings. The IOP was measured with the GAT before LASIK and 1 and 3 months postoperatively on 45 eyes of 30 patients. Measurements were performed at the central and temporal parts of the cornea; the paired Student`s t test was used for statistical analysis. The mean preoperative IOPs at the central and peripheral cornea were 13.2+/-2.5mmHg and 13.2+/-2.5mmHg, respectively. Three month after LASIK, IOPs at the central and peripheral cornea decreased to 8.9+/-1.8mmHg and 12.3+/-2.3mmHg, respectively. Similar to PRK, the GAT readings from the central cornea after LASIK for myopia were significantly lower than the preoperative IOPs(P<0.001) and the postoperative GAT readings from the peripheral cornea(p<0.001).