Correlation between Central Corneal Thickness and Intraocular Pressure Measured by Goldmann Applanation Tonometry or Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometry

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry and Pascal dynamic contour tonometry. Patients and Methods: The study included 45 persons (90 eyes), divided into 4 groups: a) 10 normal volunteers (20 eyes); b) 16 patients (32 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma; c) 8 patients (16 eyes) with normal-tension glaucoma; and d) 11 patients (22 eyes) with ocular hypertension. Intraocular pressure was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry and Pascal dynamic contour tonometry, and central corneal thickness was measured by ultrasound pachymetry. The relationship between intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness was evaluated. Results: Intraocular pressure was correlated positively but not strongly enough with central corneal thickness when it was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry. On the contrary, there was no correlation between intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness when intraocular pressure was measured by Pascal dynamic contour tonometry. Conclusion: Central corneal thickness is an important variable in the evaluation of intraocular pressure by Goldmann applanation tonometry. This factor does not interfere with the intraocular pressure measurements taken by Pascal dynamic contour tonometry.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel: Zu untersuchen den Zusammenhang zwischen der zentralen Hornhautdicke und des mittels Goldmann-Applanationstonometrie oder Pascal-dynamischen Konturtonometrie gemessenen Augeninnendruckes. Patienten und Methoden: In diese Studie wurden 45 Patienten (90 Augen) eingeschloßen, welche in 4 Gruppen klassifiziert wurden: a) 10 Normalprobanden (20 Augen); b) 16 Patienten mit primärem Offenwinkelglaukom (32 Augen); c) 8 Patienten mit Normaldruckglaukom (16 Augen); und d) 11 Patienten mit okulärer Hypertension (22 Augen). Der Augeninnendruck wurde mittels Goldmann-Applanationstonometrie und Pascal-dynamischen Konturtonometrie gemessen, während zentrale Hornhautdicke mittels Ultraschall-Pachymetrie bestimmt wurde. Ergebnisse: Der mittels Goldmann-Applanationstonometrie gemessene Augeninnendruck war mit zentrale Hornhautdicke positiv korreliert, während der mittels Pascal-dynamischen Konturtonometrie gemessene Augeninnendruck mit zentrale Hornhautdicke nicht korreliert war. Schlussfolgerung: Die zentrale Hornhautdicke stellt einen wichtigen Faktor dar, welcher die mittels Goldmann-Applanationstonometrie Augeninnendruckmessung beeinflusst. Die mittels Pascal-dynamischen Konturtonometrie erhobenen Augeninnendruckwerte sind mit der zentralen Hornhautdicke nicht korreliert.

Schlüsselwörter

Glaukom - Goldmann-Applanationstonometrie - Pascal-dynamische Konturtonometrie

Key words

glaucoma - Goldmann applanation tonometry - Pascal dynamic contour tonometry

• References

• 1 Hoffmann EM, Grus FH, Pfeiffer N. Intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude using dynamic contour tonometry and contact lens tonometry. BMC Ophthalmol 2004; 4: 4
• 2 Ku JY, Danesh-Meyer HV, Craig JP et al. Comparison of intraocular pressure measured by Pascal dynamic contour tonometry and Goldmann applanation tonometry. Eye (Lond) 2006; 20: 191-198
• 3 Katsimpris JM, Theoulakis PE, Papadopoulos GE et al. Ocular pulse amplitude measurement using pascal dynamic contour tonometer in glaucoma patients. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2014; 231: 363-367
• 4 Fick A. Ueber Messung des Druckes im Auge. Arch f Gessamte Physiologie die Menschen und Thiere 1888; 42: 86-89
• 5 Goldmann H, Schmidt T. Uber Applanations-Tonometrie. Ophthalmologica 1957; 134: 221-242
• 6 Impert A. Théories ophthalmotonomètres. Arch Ophthalmol 1885; 5: 358
• 7 Glouster J, Perkins ES. The validity of the Impert-Fick law as applied to applanation tonometry. Exp Eye Res 1963; 2: 274
• 8 Markiewitz HH. The so-called Impert-Fick law. Arch Ophthalmol 1960; 64: 159
• 9 Goldmann H. Applanation tonometry. In: Newell FW, ed. Glaucoma. Transactions of the Second Conference. New York: Josiah Macy, Jr., Foundation; 1957: 167-220
• 10 Ehlers N, Bramsen T, Sperling S. Applanation tonometry and central corneal thickness. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1975; 53: 34-43
• 11 Kruse Hansen F, Ehlers N. Elevated tonometer readings caused by thick cornea. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1971; 49: 775-778
• 12 Ehlers N, Kruse Hansen F. Central corneal thickness in low-tension glaucoma. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1974; 52: 740-746
• 13 Whitacre MM, Stein RA, Hassanein K. The effect of corneal thickness on applanation tonometry. Am J Ophthalmol 1993; 115: 592-596
• 14 Johnson M, Kass MA, Moses RA et al. Increased corneal thickness simulating elevated intraocular pressure. Arch Ophthalmol 1978; 96: 664-665
• 15 Entenmann B, Robert Y, Pirani P et al. Contact lens tonometry – application in humans. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1997; 38: 2447-2451
• 16 Pelit A, Altan-Yaycioglu R, Pelit A et al. Effect of corneal thickness on intraocular pressure measurements with the Pascal dynamic contour, Canon TX-10 non-contact and Goldmann applanation tonometers in healthy subjects. Clin Exp Optom 2009; 92: 14-18
• 17 Mangouritsas G, Mourtzoukos S, Mantzounis A et al. Comparison of Goldmann and Pascal tonometry in relation to corneal hysteresis and central corneal thickness in nonglaucomatous eyes. Clin Ophthalmol 2011; 5: 1071-1077
• 18 Sullivan-Mee M, Halverson KD, Qualls C. Clinical comparison of pascal dynamic contour tonometry and goldmann applanation tonometry in asymmetric open-angle glaucoma. J Glaucoma 2007; 16: 694-699
• 19 Salvetat ML, Zeppieri M, Tosoni C et al. Comparisons between Pascal dynamic contour tonometry, the TonoPen, and Goldmann applanation tonometry in patients with glaucoma. Acta Ophthalmol Scand 2007; 85: 272-279