Does smoking affect intraocular pressure? Findings from the Blue Mountains Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between smoking and intraocular pressure.


METHODS
The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 residents aged 49 years and older in an area west of Sydney, Australia from 1992 to 1994. A trained interviewer collected a detailed history of smoking. Intraocular pressure was measured using Goldmann applanation tonometry; as the correlation between right and left eyes was very high, only right-eye data are presented. Participants using glaucoma medications or who had evidence of previous cataract surgery were excluded.


RESULTS
Current smokers (15.8% of participants) had slightly higher mean intraocular pressures (16.34 mm Hg) than nonsmokers (16.04 mm Hg). Intraocular pressure (in the right eye) was significantly associated with current smoking, after adjusting for age and sex (P = 0.03). This association remained unchanged after simultaneous adjustment for other variables associated with intraocular pressure, including blood pressure, diabetes, myopia, glaucoma, family history, and pseudoexfoliation (P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
This study identified a modest cross-sectional positive association between current smoking and intraocular pressure.
Lee
Anne J
AJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
Rochtchina
Elena
E
Wang
Jie Jin
JJ
Healey
Paul R
PR
Mitchell
Paul
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular