The Relationship between Intraocular Pressure and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and cardiovascular risk variables in healthy Koreans adjusted for age and mean blood pressure. METHODS: A total of 1477 healthy participants underwent automated multi-phasic test, including tonometry, automated perimetry, fundus photography, blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk variables such as total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and blood glucose. The subjects were divided into six age groups by decades ranging from 20~29 years to over 70 years. The relationship between IOP and cardiovascular risk variables was examined using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 49.0 years, and 778 (52.7%) of participants were men. The mean IOP was 15.8+/-3.2 mmHg, and was significantly higher in men than in women (p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As increased IOP was associated with cardiovascular risk variables, it is necessary to control increased total cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood glucose levels in the normal population to prevent or control the IOP elevation.