Ocular pulse amplitude measurement using pascal dynamic contour tonometer in glaucoma patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to measure and compare the ocular pulse amplitude using Pascal dynamic contour tonometry in normal persons and in glaucoma patients.


METHODS
20 patients (40 eyes) with primary open angle glaucoma (Group A), 8 patients (16 eyes) with normal tension glaucoma (Group B), and 12 patients (24 eyes) with ocular hypertension (Group C) were included in the study. Control group (Group D) comprised 25 normal volunteers (50 eyes). Intraocular pressure was measured using both Goldmann applanation tonometry in the slit-lamp and Pascal dynamic contour tonometry. Ocular pulse amplitude was evaluated with Pascal dynamic contour tonometry. Statistical evaluation of the differences in ocular pulse amplitude and intraocular pressure among the different groups was performed using Student's t-test.


RESULTS
Mean ocular pulse amplitude values expressed in mmHg were 3.66 ± 1.00, 2.46 ± 0.60, 4.04 ± 1.47, and 2.52 ± 0.52, for Groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. The ocular pulse amplitude was significantly higher in Group A (primary open angle glaucoma) and Group C (ocular hypertension) when compared with Group D (control group) and Group B (normal tension glaucoma). No statistically significant difference was detected between Group D (control group) and Group B (normal tension glaucoma).


CONCLUSIONS
Although we can measure the intraocular pressure with Goldmann applanation tonometry, no information can be derived regarding the ocular pulse amplitude. The use of Pascal dynamic contour tonometry in intraocular pressure estimation provides useful clinical information also about the magnitude of the ocular pulse amplitude in different types of glaucoma. Pascal dynamic contour tonometry discloses an elevation of ocular pulse amplitude in primary open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension patients. On the contrary, the ocular pulse amplitude is within normal limits in normal tension glaucoma patients.
Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Patras "Agios Andreas", Patras, Greece (Chairman: Dr. G. Vassilopoulos).
J M
JM
Katsimpris
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom (Chairman: , S. Althauser).
P E
PE
Theoulakis
Ophthalmology, Surgical Unit, General Hospital of Aigio, Aigio, Greece (Chairman: Dr. G. E. Papadopoulos).
G E
GE
Papadopoulos
Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Patras "Agios Andreas", Patras, Greece (Chairman: Dr. G. Vassilopoulos).
A
A
Katsimpris
Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Patras "Agios Andreas", Patras, Greece (Chairman: Dr. G. Vassilopoulos).
J
J
Lepidas
Ophthalmological Center of Rive, Geneva, Switzerland (Chairmen: Dr. P. M. Desmangles, Dr. M. A. Matter).
I K
IK
Petropoulos
D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods