Intraocular pressure changes over 21 years – a longitudinal age‐cohort study in northern Sweden

• Published in: Acta Ophthalmologica
• Main Authors: Åström, Siv, Stenlund, Hans, Lindén, Christina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2013
• Subjects: Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aos.12232; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Faos.12232; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/aos.12232

Abstract. Purpose: To follow intraocular pressure (IOP) and the influence of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) and cataract extraction in an age‐cohort in northern Sweden; patients were followed prospectively for 21 years from age 66 to 87 years. Methods: Three Hundred and thirty‐nine individuals, randomly selected from an age‐cohort born in 1915 underwent ophthalmological examination including measurement of IOP with Goldmann applanation tonometry, screening for PEX and glaucoma. Follow‐up examinations were performed three times with 7‐year intervals. Medical records were reviewed for dates of cataract surgery and glaucoma treatment. A linear mixed model was used to analyse the impact of sex, eye (right/left), PEX, cataract extraction and time on IOP. Results: Without cataract surgery, the IOP from age of 66 to 87 years, increased by 0.05 mmHg/year (p < 0.001). If cataract surgery was included in the model, no significant change in IOP over time was found. The estimated contribution of PEX to IOP was +2.05 mmHg (p < 0.001), and the contribution of cataract surgery was −2.13 mmHg (p < 0.001). The mean IOP in women was 1.22 mmHg higher than in men (p = 0.001). Conclusion: A small but statistically significant increase in IOP with age was detected when excluding eyes that had undergone cataract surgery. PEX was associated with a higher IOP and cataract extraction with a lower.