Effect of a tight necktie on intraocular pressure.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a tight necktie on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement using Goldmann applanation tonometry.


METHODS
40 eyes of 20 normal subjects and 20 open angle glaucoma patients (all male) were enrolled. IOP was measured with an open shirt collar, 3 minutes after placing a tight necktie, and 3 minutes after loosening it. All measurements were made by the same examiner.


RESULTS
Mean IOP in normal subjects increased by 2.6 (SD 3.9) mm Hg (p=0.008, paired t test; range -3 to +14 mm Hg) and in glaucoma patients by 1.0 (1.8) mm Hg (p=0.02, paired t test; range -2 to +4.5 mm Hg). In normal subjects, IOP in 12 eyes was increased by >/=2 mm Hg and in seven eyes by >/=4 mm Hg. In glaucoma patients, IOP in six eyes was increased by >/=2 mm Hg and in two eyes by >/=4 mm Hg.


CONCLUSIONS
A tight necktie increases IOP in both normal subjects and glaucoma patients and could affect the diagnosis and management of glaucoma.
Teng
C
C
SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Gurses-Ozden
R
R
Liebmann
J M
JM
Tello
C
C
Ritch
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003020:Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000150:complications; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D011312:Pressure; D012307:Risk Factors; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular