InternatIonal journal of BIomedIcal scIence Comparison of Intraocular Pressure Fluctuations

AbstrAct background: Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the major known risk factor in glaucoma and the primer mover of the functional damage in glaucomatous patients but it is not a unique determinant of glaucomatous damage. Clinical assessment of glaucoma patients may not be a true reflection of overall IOP control. Evalu-ation of the effect of glaucoma medication is restricted by measurement of IOP as a dynamic physiological parameter. Purpose: To compare IOP fluctuations over time using Goldmann applanation tonometry (IOP-GAT) and pulsatile ocular blood flow analyzer (IOP-POBFA) under the Dorzolamide/timolol or latanoprost treatment regimes. Design: Prospective 1 year follow-up study. Participants: 30 randomly chosen controlled open angle glaucoma patients (60 eyes): 16 patients (32 eyes) receiving Dorzolamide/timolol fixed combina-tion (D/T) and 14 (28 eyes) latanoprost 0.005 % treatment. Main outcome measures: Changes in IOP and perfusion pressure dynamics. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in baseline IOP parameters between study groups: 15.69 ± 2.02 mmHg with D/T and 16.71 ± 2.84 mmHg with latanoprost (p=0.314). Both treatment regimes were tolerated and patients were adherent to treatment. Determined a strong positive correlation between IOP-GAT and IOP-POBFA; verified over time period under particular treatment regime. After 1 year follow-up D/T and latanoprost results referred to statistically significan