title: Continuous IOP fluctuation recording in normal tension glaucoma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the only treatable risk factor of progressive glaucoma. Recently a device became available to continuously record IOP fluctuation in contrast to classical, discreet IOP measurements.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To perform 24-h IOP fluctuation monitoring using a CE-marked silicone lens-embedded strain gauge sensor (SENSIMED Triggerfish) in five normal tension glaucoma patients in the presence and absence of anti-glaucomatous treatment and to show the clinical importance of this diagnostic tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  24-h continuous IOP fluctuation monitoring was performed on two occasions separated by at least 6 weeks in each patient. In the control session patients were untreated or previous IOP-lowering medication was washed-out for at least 6 weeks. In the treatment session patients received IOP-lowering medication for at least 6 weeks. The continuous recordings were analyzed for differences between daytime and nighttime data and for repeatability over time. Furthermore, profiles recorded in each patient in treated and non-treated conditions were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highly individual and repeatable profiles were obtained. Data recorded during daytime portions of the recordings showed higher coefficients of variation than nighttime data. Positive and significant linear slopes for the transition period from wake time to sleep time were detected in all patients in the absence of anti-glaucomatous treatment, while in three patients of five no significant slopes were detected under treated conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that the continuous IOP fluctuation monitoring device is sensitive to individual IOP rhythms and to differences in such rhythms due to anti-glaucomatous drug therapy.
authors: Swiss Eye Research Foundation, Eye Clinic ORASIS, Titlisstrasse, Reinach, Switzerland. bpajic@datacomm.ch
authors: Bojan
authors: B
authors: Pajic
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Pajic-Eggspuchler
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Haefliger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D057066:Low Tension Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000379:methods*