title: Premature ventricular systole detection by applanation tonometry.
abstract: We first identified (and probably stimulated) premature ventricular systoles in six patients while performing Goldmann applanation tonometry. One patient developed atrial fibrillation and one patient had a follow-up electrocardiogram showing increasing numbers of these extra systoles without any other abnormalities. Just as in tonography, these were detected during applanation tonometry as rapid decreases in intraocular pressures followed by a gradual return to prior levels. The decrease in measured intraocular pressure was occasionally 8 mm Hg but usually was between 2 and 5 mm Hg. These systoles probably occurred during the first part of applanation tonometry and during the first few office visits.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*