IOP INCREASE AFTER VISUAL FIELD EXAMINATION

L. E. Patsea, A. Amariotakis , S. Katsourakis, K. Roungas, S. Skouriotis, M. Vourexaki and *G. T. Georgopoulos

Department of Glaucoma, Ophthalmiatrio Eye Hospital, Athens, Greece

*Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School, Athens University, Greece

Purpose: To determine if visual field examination has an impact on IOP in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Methods: In 32 patients IOP was measured before and after 30-2 full threshold visual field test with the Humphrey VF analyzer. After 20 min of rest the patient's IOP was measured again. To confirm if accommodation affects IOP measures all patients were left for 20 min wearing the same glasses used for near correction in the VF test and then IOP was measured again. Another IOP measurement followed 20 min after removing the glasses. Patients with previous surgery, angle closure, pigmentary glaucoma and pilocarpine treatment were excluded from the study.

Results: There was a statistically significant increase in IOP after VF test (p=0.015), but after a 20 min rest, IOP dropped significantly and returned to the same level as before the VF test. There was also a statistically significant increase in IOP after 20 min of wearing glasses with the same near correction used for VF test (p<0.001). After a second 20 min rest IOP returned to the previous level.

Conclusion: Immediately after VF test IOP showed a statistically significant increase. This can be attributed to the lack of accommodation during the test and this hypothesis is supported by the fact that the same patients showed a statistically significant increase in IOP after using the same near correction for 20 min.