title: Does smoking affect intraocular pressure? Findings from the Blue Mountains Eye Study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rochtchina
authors.forename: Jie Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Healey
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: 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