Some physiological factors affecting intra ocular pressure in Al-Najaf district

In order to assess some factors that affect the intra ocular pressure [IOP]; [116] patients[with elevated IOP], 79 males and 37 females their ages were between [22-80 years], duration of their disease [2 weeks-20 years], and [124] subjects [without IOP elevation] i.e. control group, without a history of [IOP] elevation or previous eye problem, their age between [20-80 years], [60] males and [64] females. In this study some factors affecting the [IOP] elevation were taken like, age, sex, obesity [reflected by body mass index [BMI] and body surface area [BSA]] and blood pressure [mean blood pressure]. The [IOP] was measured by the Goldmann's applanation tonometer which is a criterion standard. Paired and independent t tests had been applied at level of significance [0.05] using [SPSS] V. 10 program. According to the results of our study:-1. The effect of age on the [IOP] elevation was significant with advanced age. -2. The effect of mean blood pressure was significant in patients with [IOP] elevation than in control group [P<.0.05]. The study concluded that the patients with [IOP] elevation had higher mean blood pressure than control group [P<0.05], so the systemic hypertension could be a possible cause of [IOP] elevation, and that with advanced age the possibility of [IOP] elevation becomes high