Intraocular pressure (iOP) is the primary risk factor for the development and progression of glaucoma, and is presently the only modifiable one. Since the introduction of NICE CG85 for glaucoma in 2009, 1 optometrists have been required to refer patients to the Hospital Eye Service or to a specialist ophthalmologist.
Intraocular pressure (iOP) is the primary risk factor for the development and progression of glaucoma, and is presently the only modifiable one. Since the introduction of NICE CG85 for glaucoma in 2009, 1 optometrists have been required to refer patients to the Hospital Eye Service or to a specialist ophthalmologist.
Intraocular pressure (iOP) is the primary risk factor for the development and progression of glaucoma, and is presently the only modifiable one. Since the introduction of NICE CG85 for glaucoma in 2009, 1 optometrists have been required to refer patients to the Hospital Eye Service or to a specialist ophthalmologist.
To be able to assess intraocular pressure using appropriate techniques
(Group 2.1.1) 1 4 / 0 3 / 1 4
C E T 46 CET CONTINUING EDUCATION & TRAINING 1 CET POINT
There are many factors that aect the measurement of intraocular pressure. This article explores the short, medium and long-term factors, which can have an impact on the results, allowing the practitioner to take these into account when they perform tonometry on their patients. Factors afecting intraocular pressure measurement Dr Kirsten Hamilton-Maxwell PhD, BOptom (Hons), FHEA
About the author Dr Kirsten Hamilton-Maxwell is a lecturer and clinical optometric supervisor in the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences at Cardi University, where she teaches a range of clinical techniques. Her research interests include tonometry, corneal properties and intraocular pressure. Course code: C-35741 | Deadline: April 11, 2014 Learning objectives To be able to obtain a full history relevant to intraocular pressure measurement (Group 1.1.1) To understand the importance of recording full detail with respect to intraocular pressure measurement (Group 2.2.4) To be able to interpret the results when undertaking tonometry (Group 3.1.6) To be able to recognise anomalies in intraocular pressure readings (Group 6.1.5) Learning objectives To be able to explain to the patient about the implications of intraocular pressure readings (Group 1.2.4) To be able to understand the implications of intraocular pressure readings (Group 3.1.6) For the latest CET visit www.optometry.co.uk/cet 1 4 / 0 3 / 1 4
C E T 47 Introduction Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the primary risk factor for the development and progression of glaucoma, and is presently the only modiable one. Since the introduction of NICE CG85 for Glaucoma in 2009, 1 and subsequent guidance from the College of Optometrists and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, 2 optometrists have been required to refer patients to the Hospital Eye Service or to a specialist optometrist when the IOP is higher than 21mmHg, even in the absence of other glaucomatous changes. Recent research has shown that the requirement for IOP-based referrals has resulted in a large increase in the total number of patients being referred by optometrists, as well as an increase in the proportion of patients who do not have an IOP above the threshold level after referral. 3 Enhancing the accuracy of IOP measurements is, therefore, vital. The purpose of this article is to highlight factors that can inuence IOP and provide recommendations to make measurements more reliable. Intraocular pressure (IOP) The aqueous humour is secreted continuously at a rate of approximately 2.750.63L/min (range 1.8 to 4.3L/min) by the epithelia of the ciliary body into the posterior chamber of the eye, with a much smaller component originating from the ltration of blood plasma in the ciliary processes. 4 It circulates through the pupil into the anterior chamber, then drains through Schlemms canal via the trabecular meshwork, with a lesser amount passing through uveoscleral channels. 4 The aqueous humour has several important functions within the eye including the supply of nutrients and the removal of waste products from anterior ocular structures. 5 It also exerts a uid pressure that keeps the globe of the eye inated. IOP is often said to be normal if it is between 1021mmHg; a gure calculated as the range over which 95% of IOPs are expected to lie. 6
However, IOP is a highly dynamic quantity that changes over time. At any given moment, the IOP depends on the combination of three factors, which are all uctuating independently over diering timescales: The amount of fuid within the eye, which is determined by the balance of aqueous humour production and drainage External forces acting upon the eye, including the tension within the ocular walls themselves The intraocular volume. Common circumstances in which these factors can inuence IOP measurement will now be discussed and are summarised in Table 1. Figure 1 Position of the GAT semi-circular mires during the highest (right) and lowest (left) parts of the ocular pulse cycle (green). The tonometer should be aligned so that the mires oscillate around an imaginary central point of alignment (grey) Short-term Medium-term Long-term/permanent Ocular pulse Breath-holding Straining Tight clothing around the neck Posture Accommodation Eye position Lid squeezing Opening eyes wide Eye rubbing Contact lens removal Diurnal variation Eating and drinking Smoking Systemic medication Exercise Accommodation/reading Optometric techniques Age Lifestyle (e.g. smoking) General health Gender Season Ocular factors Table 1 Common factors that afect IOP. (Note that this list is not exhaustive) Figure 2 IOP changes induced by walking for a short distance. Adapted from Hamilton- Maxwell and Feeney (2012) 45 Baseline IOP After walking After 20 min rest I n t r a o c u l a r
p r e s s u r e ,
m m H g
( m e a n
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9 5 %
C I ) 13 14 15 16 17 18 1 4 / 0 3 / 1 4
C E T 48 CET CONTINUING EDUCATION & TRAINING 1 CET POINT or a decrease if the patient breathes in. 9,10
However, a more recent study suggests that the impact of breath-holding, of the type that is likely to occur during tonometry, is likely to be minimal. 10 Until there is more supporting evidence, it is still advisable to remind patients to breathe normally during tonometry. Straining Straining to reach equipment is also likely to cause an articial rise in IOP of around 5mmHg. 9,11 If it is not possible to position the patient at the slit lamp without diculty, then an alternative tonometer should be used, if available. 11 Tight clothing Pressure around the neck from a necktie can cause an increase in venous pressure and subsequently raise the IOP by 13mmHg. 12
It has been proposed that the IOP returns to normal levels if the necktie is left in place. 13 It is, however, still possible that tight clothing around the neck may become an issue when the patient leans forward into position at the slit lamp; 9 that being the case, it is recommended that any tight clothing around the neck be loosened prior to IOP measurement. Posture IOP increases when a person changes their position from sitting to reclined; most studies have reported a range of around 16mmHg in healthy eyes and up to 9mmHg in glaucomatous eyes. 14 An increase in IOP of approximately 2mmHg has also been found even when the patient is only slightly reclined by 15 degrees. 15 In most optometric practices, IOP is measured in a seated patient, however should a measurement need to be taken when the patient is reclined, such as during a domiciliary visit, the patients posture should be recorded. It would be unwise to try to make an adjustment based on posture because the size of the eect varies widely between individuals. Accommodation Accommodation has an interesting eect on the eye, being able to increase or decrease the IOP depending on the circumstances. It is likely that the accommodative eect on Short-term fuctuations in IOP Short-term uctuations of IOP occur over a timescale of seconds or minutes; this is of signicance to practitioners as they can occur during the time of measurement. Although this means that they can have a clinical impact, they are also among the easiest type of IOP uctuations to monitor or control. Ocular pulse The ocular pulse results from changes to intraocular volume that occurs when the choroid expands and contracts during the cardiac cycle. It causes the IOP to change by an average of 3mmHg (range 1-7mmHg) every time the heart beats. 7 Even though the ocular pulse cannot be eliminated, it can be controlled in several ways. When performing Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), the ocular pulse is visible as an oscillation of the semi-circular mires around an imaginary central point of alignment. Aligning the upper and lower semi-circular mires, so that they oscillate by an equal amount around that central point, will allow for a reasonable approximation of the IOP to be made (see Figure 1). For tonometers that take their measurements over a period that is shorter than the ocular pulse cycle, such as non- contact tonometers (NCT), it is recommended that four readings are taken and the average value calculated capturing snapshots of IOP at various points across the ocular pulse cycle. 8 Increased venous pressure Venous pressure can elevate the IOP via an increase in choroidal volume, reducing the space available for the intraocular uid; common examples of this are forceful breathing, breath holding, straining and changes in posture. Breath holding It is common for patients to hold their breath during tonometry for a variety of reasons including anxiety, trying to be a good patient, some may simply be unconscious they are doing it. Many practitioners may remember being taught that IOP increases during breath- holding due to evidence from studies showing that activities involving forced breathing such as the Valsalva manoeuvre causes an IOP rise of at least 5mmHg if the patient breathes out, IOP is related to eort rather than the amount of accommodation used, so will occur in presbyopes and in cyclopleged pre-presbyopes, as well as in patients with a full accommodative amplitude. 16,17 During accommodation, an IOP increase of 24 mmHg takes place. 16 Should accommodation occur during tonometry, such as a patient who xates on the tonometer, slit lamp or practitioner, the IOP will be higher than normal. Patients should, therefore, be encouraged to xate on a distant object during tonometry. However, following a period of sustained accommodation for as little as one minute, the IOP will decrease by 15mmHg, and this eect will last for at least 15 minutes. 9 It is theoretically possible that optometric tests such as amplitude of accommodation or near vision testing (without an addition) will subsequently inuence the IOP; the practitioner may, therefore, wish to consider the order of testing. Similarly, consideration should also be given to whether a patient may have been viewing a near target such as a smartphone, or reading a magazine, while waiting for their appointment. Eye position The force exerted by the extraocular muscles on the globe can cause the IOP to increase when the direction of gaze changes from the primary position, particularly in upgaze. Though this eect is modest (<2mmHg) in most patients, 9 those with disorders of the extraocular muscles, for example, in thyroid eye disease, will exhibit a much higher increase in IOP. 18
Provided that the slit lamp chin rest is adjusted so that the outer canthus is aligned with the canthus marks, there will be no vertical discrepancy in the position of gaze. However, care must be taken when choosing a xation target that avoids the practitioners head (which would induce accommodation) but is also not positioned too far laterally. Of course, variations to both vertical and horizontal position of gaze can easily occur when using hand-held tonometers, so caution should be exercised under these conditions. Lid squeezing Lid squeezing where a patient struggles to keep their eyes open during measurements has been shown to cause an increase in IOP of around 5mmHg. 16 In its most extreme form, Table 1 Characteristics of anterior lid margin disease 1 4 / 0 3 / 1 4
C E T For the latest CET visit www.optometry.co.uk/cet IOPs of over 80mmHg have been recorded during blepharospasm. This can be overcome in most patients by encouraging the patient to relax, trying again later (a few minutes is often long enough), or using a dierent tonometer with which the patient is more comfortable. Open your eyes wide Contact with the eyelids can cause errors in IOP measurements. In an attempt to avoid this, practitioners often ask the patient to open their eyes more widely. Research shows that this instruction can cause the IOP to increase by 2mmHg. 9 Gentle encouragement to refrain from blinking can often solve this, but where the problem persists, it may be advisable to manually position the eyelids against the orbital bone. 49 Eye rubbing and contact lens removal Applying manual pressure to the globe will cause the IOP to increase initially, but this will be followed by a period of reduced IOP once the external force has been removed. In particular, the IOP is likely to be very high while eye rubbing is taking place, but will subsequently be lower by an average of 1mmHg. 10 It would, therefore, be advisable to ask a patient to avoid rubbing their eyes immediately prior to tonometry, but it might also be useful to ask a patient about recent eye rubbing if there is a history ocular allergies for patients whose IOPs are near the borderline for referral. Similarly, soft contact lens removal can place transient pressure on the eye. Although the average uctuation in IOP is small (-0.8mmHg if the lens is plucked or +0.5mmHg when using a sliding technique), it can be as much as 4mmHg in some patients. 19 This error can be avoided completely if there is ve minutes or more between soft contact lens removal and IOP measurement. 19 There is currently no evidence regarding the eect of rigid contact lens removal on IOP. Medium term fuctuations in IOP In the context of this article, medium term uctuations in IOP are those that occur over a timescale of a few hours to a few days. These uctuations can be more dicult to deal with because the practitioner cannot, in most cases, control them. Diurnal variation One of the most signicant uctuations in Figure 3 Factors to consider when measuring IOP Use a standard tonometry protocol, paying careful attention to patient set-up and instructions Consider the order of your clinical routine Avoid IOP measurements in the frst two hours after waking, as this is when the IOP is likely to uctuate the most If you intend to repeat IOP measurements on a diferent day, provide advice that will minimise IOP uctuations Identify potential problems by taking a thorough clinical history Note any likely sources of fuctuation to aid interpretation For example, an asymmetric IOP can indicate pathology such as a retinal detachment or uveitis Eliminate or minimise IOP fuctuations whenever possible For IOP fuctuations that cannot be eliminated Consider other conditions that may cause changes in IOP, as well as glaucoma 1 4 / 0 3 / 1 4
C E T 50 CET CONTINUING EDUCATION & TRAINING 1 CET POINT IOP is the diurnal variation, where the IOP uctuates over a cycle lasting approximately 24 hours. The diurnal variation may be due to: Posture 14 Ambient illumination 20,21 Stage of sleep 22 Circulating cortisol levels 23 Suspension and resumption of eye movements and accommodation 24 Errors in IOP measurement 25 Many others have been proposed (Prostaglandin, aldosterone, oestrogen, thyroxine, catecholamine, ADH, plasma pH, serum osmolarity, hypothalamus activity, and adrenaline). 26
Diurnal uctuation is between 26mmHg in healthy eyes, but may be 10mmHg or more in glaucomatous eyes. 27,28 It may also be higher in hypermetropes. 29 Most readers will know that it is important to record the time of day that IOP is measured. Although it is advisable to continue to do so, there is a growing body of evidence that question whether time of day is as informative as once believed. The statements that are up for debate are outlined in Table 2.
Eating and drinking Consumption of food and drink appears to have an eect on the IOP, although there is limited research to date. It is known that IOP increases upon the resumption of eating and drinking in the evenings in patients who observe Ramadan, 34 and that drinking large volumes of uid also raises the IOP. 35 The contents of the food and drink, e.g. caeine, can also play a role. 36 Further research is needed, however, before generalisations can be made about the relationship between food and drink consumption and IOP. Tobacco There is both a transient and long-term IOP rise in patients who smoke. Eleven per cent of non-glaucoma patients and 37% of patients with glaucoma have an IOP spike of at least 5mmHg following a cigarette, although it is unknown how long the eect may last. 37 The average IOP is also higher in smokers, although when considered across a population, the eect is just a fraction of a mmHg. 38 The transient increase in IOP may interfere with measurements in some patients who have taken the opportunity to smoke a cigarette while waiting for their appointment. Alcohol The relationship between alcohol consumption and IOP is unclear. In the short term, it can be hypothesised that IOP would decrease following signicant alcohol consumption due to dehydration; over a longer term, the evidence is equivocal. 39 It seems probable that other lifestyle factors that are associated with alcohol consumption, such as general health, body mass index (BMI) and diet, may have confounding eects on the IOP. Recreational drugs Recreational drugs can have varying eects on IOP depending on their pharmacological actions and it is beyond the scope of this article to discuss them in any detail. It is worth mentioning that cannabis decreases the IOP to such an extent that it is being investigated as a treatment for glaucoma, provided that the psychoactive properties can be removed. 40 Systemic and ocular corticosteroids Oral and topical corticosteroid medications are known to raise IOP. Approximately 46% of the population will have an extreme reaction where the IOP increases by 15mmHg or more; another third will have a more moderate increase of 615mmHg, while the remainder will see no increase in IOP. 41 However, recent research has shown that topical steroids, including those commonly available over the counter for hay fever, can also cause an increase in IOP. 41
Importantly, the IOP increase associated with this type of steroid is not dose dependent but instead based on whether the patient has ever used them. A careful history is essential to identify current and previous steroid use. 41 Statement Debate The IOP is always highest in the morning Though it is true that the IOP is probably at its highest level immediately after waking, 25 this has typically subsided long before most practitioners open for business. Although there is still a slight tendency for an IOP to be higher in the morning hours, there is a such a large variation in the timing of the maximum IOP that it may be more appropriate to assume that it can occur at any time 27,28
The diurnal variation is the same every day Research has shown that the diurnal pattern is not the same every day, whether the eye is healthy or glaucomatous. 30 This means that the reproducibility of IOP measurements obtained on diferent days, even at the same time, is limited 31 The diurnal fuctuation is the same in both eyes Although it is long established that the IOP fuctuation will be diferent in the two eyes of patients with glaucoma, 32 more recent evidence suggests that this asymmetric fuctuation can also be seen in healthy eyes 33 Table 2 Uncertainties surrounding the diurnal variation of IOP
MORE INFORMATION References Visit www.optometry.co.uk/clinical, click on the article title and then on references to download. Exam questions Under the new enhanced CET rules of the GOC, MCQs for this exam appear online at www.optometry.co.uk/cet/exams. Please complete online by midnight on April 11, 2014. You will be unable to submit exams after this date. Answers will be published on www.optometry.co.uk/cet/exam-archive and CET points will be uploaded to the GOC every two weeks. You will then need to log into your CET portfolio by clicking on MyGOC on the GOC website (www.optical.org) to conrm your points.
Refective learning Having completed this CET exam, consider whether you feel more condent in your clinical skills how will you change the way you practice? How will you use this information to improve your work for patient benet? are separated by ve minutes or more. 50 The origin of this behaviour is uncertain, and it has been proposed that there may be a true reduction in IOP resulting from ocular massage, or it may be a measurement error resulting from corneal ow. 9 A third option is that it may be due to a reduction in patient apprehension about the procedure. 51 It is suggested that GAT should be performed as quickly as possible to reduce the number and duration of contacts with the eye, and that the rst measurement in each session be discarded. 52 Repeated measurements using NCT does not cause an IOP reduction. 53 Visual felds IOP and visual eld assessment (VFA) are integral clinical procedures required for the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. Several factors that may inuence IOP are modied during VFA, including accommodation, pupil size, posture and anxiety levels. 9 Reports have shown that IOP increases in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) following VFA but not in controls. 54 Others have noted, however, that there is no mean change in IOP in either treated POAG, suspect POAG or ocular hypertensive (OHT) patients. 55 Equivocal ndings between studies may relate to the length of the visual eld test, with longer tests causing an increase in IOP and short tests having no eect. It is, therefore, recommended that IOP is measured prior to VFA, if it is likely that the test duration will be longer than four or ve minutes. Longer-term Age, lifestyle and general health The eect of age on IOP depends on two key factors: racial origin and general health. In a western white population, the IOP might 1 4 / 0 3 / 1 4
C E T 51 Systemic anti-hypertensive medication Anti-hypertensive medications also act upon the eye, so it would be typical of patients taking these medications to have a reduced IOP; this can be useful, reducing the need for topical IOP lowering medications in glaucoma patients. 42 Exercise Patients who have recently participated in strenuous aerobic exercises such as running and cycling will have an IOP that is lower than normal. Decreases of up to 6mmHg have been reported in healthy eyes, 43 with up to 13mmHg reduction in glaucomatous eyes. 44 It is thought that IOP returns to pre-exercise levels after approximately 2060 minutes, although recovery time can vary a great deal. 43 A more subtle eect is the IOP decrease that can occur after a short walk of just two thirds of a mile, reducing measures by 1.4mmHg with levels not recovering even after 20 minutes (see Figure 2). 45 The fall in IOP appears to be related to the level of exertion, rather than the total time walked. 45 Where IOP measurements are critical, practitioners are advised to seek information regarding a patients mode of transport and their perceived level of exertion. 45 If there were any doubt, it would be advisable to repeat the measurements after the patient has been resting for approximately one hour. Optometric techniques Tonometry An important factor to consider with IOP uctuations is the eect of the tonometer itself. Repeatedly subjecting a cornea to GAT can cause the IOP to decrease by 34mmHg, if the measurements are repeated at one-minute intervals over a period of several minutes. 49 This eect disappears if IOP measurements increase by a very small amount, 56 if at all. 57 An increase of approximately 1mmHg per decade can be expected in patients of African descent, 58 whereas a decrease with age is found in patients of east-Asian origin. 59 Changes in IOP with age are probably associated with systemic factors such as hypertension, diabetes, BMI, smoking and cholesterol. 56,57 All of the aforementioned factors can also contribute to elevated IOP in younger individuals who have these conditions. 60 Gender Gender has also been indicated as an important factor for IOP levels in a number of studies, with a higher IOP reported in women, 61 though this observation is not a universal nding. 56,57 Hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women appears to cause IOP to decrease by an average of 1.4mmHg. 62 Other factors There is a seasonal inuence on IOP, and it is has been reported that it may be up to 2mmHg higher in winter than in summer. 63 IOP tends to be higher in myopes, 64 and it is also higher in brown eyes than blue eyes in Caucasians, although the eect is small in both cases. 65 Conclusion In conclusion, there are many factors that can aect IOP; these can be natural or induced, avoidable or unavoidable, and can be over a short or long term. It is important to eliminate sources of IOP uctuation wherever possible (see Figure 3, page 49). Where it is not possible, a good understanding of the sources of IOP uctuations is essential to interpret IOP measurements with condence.