Effect of postural changes on intraocular pressure in patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma in Indian population

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare the posture-induced intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) with or without glaucoma medications, and healthy control eyes with normal IOPs in Indian subjects. Materials and Methods: The IOP was measured in the sitting position and the supine position after 10, 20, and 30 min with a rebound tonometer. Results: Twenty-five patients with PACG and 30 controls with normal IOPs were studied. The IOP in the sitting position measured with the rebound tonometer was 13.8 + 3.2 mm Hg in eyes with PAC, and 12.9 + 2.9 mm Hg in eyes with normal IOPs. The IOP increased to 14.4 mm Hg, 16.8 mm Hg, and 18.9 mm Hg at 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min in PACG subjects. In normal age-matched controls, the IOP increased to 13.4 mm Hg, 14.9 mm Hg, and 17.8 mm Hg at 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min, respectively, but none of these differences were significant (P = 0.09; P = 0.08, P = 0.08). The mean postural IOP change from baseline was also not significant between the two groups. Only three patients were on single antiglaucoma medication with well-controlled IOP in the PACG group. Conclusions: Postural IOP changes are comparable among eyes with PACG with and without glaucoma medications, and control eyes.