Evaluation of the Orssengo-Pye IOP corrective algorithm in LASIK patients with thick corneas

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Orssengo-Pye central corneal thickness (CCT) Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) corrective algorithm by observing changes in GAT and CCT before and after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery in patients with CCT that remains greater than 545 microm postoperatively.

Tonometric and pachymetric measurements were made on 14 patients (28 eyes) before and after LASIK surgery. The selected patients were required to have average or above average postoperative central corneal thickness values in both eyes (not less than 545 microm). Preoperatively, all patients had CCT and GAT measurements taken. Postoperatively patients had CCT, GAT, and dynamic contour tonometric (DCT) measurements taken.

Preoperatively, median CCT values were 589.536 microm. Median GAT values were 16.750 mmHg. Median corrected preoperative GAT values were 14.450 mmHg. After LASIK treatment, median CCT values were 559.417 microm. The decrease in median CCT was 30.119 microm. Median postoperative GAT values were 11.500 mmHg (decrease, 5.250 mmHg). Median corrected postoperative GAT values were 10.775 mmHg (decrease, 3.675 mmHg). Median postoperative DCT values were 17.858 mmHg.

LASIK treatment causes a significant reduction in measured GAT intraocular pressure (IOP) values. The Orssengo-Pye formula, which attempts to correct for GAT error associated with individual variation in CCT, appears to yield misleading results in these circumstances. An unexpected 3.675-mmHg decrease in "corrected IOP" by the Orssengo-Pye method seen in this study may be attributed to some limitation or error in the formula. After adjusting for the approximate1.7-mmHg difference, which has been demonstrated between DCT and GAT, postoperative DCT values were similar to preoperative measured GAT values.