The clinical utility of dynamic contour tonometry and ocular pulse amplitude

To determine if ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) as measured by dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) is related to severity of glaucoma, and if intraocular pressure (IOP) as measured by DCT is related to central corneal thickness (CCT).

Patients were selected from the Duke Eye Center glaucoma clinic. Fifty-five eyes of 32 patients were included; right and left eyes were analyzed separately. CCT, OPA, DCT IOP, Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), Tonopen applanation tonometry (TAT), and systemic blood pressure were measured. Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study score and mean deviation of visual field, and vertical and horizontal cup-disc ratios were recorded in a masked manner. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and OPA, DCT IOP, GAT, and TAT underwent univariate analyses to assess for relationships with predictor variables.

OPA, DCT IOP, GAT, and TAT were positively associated with CCT and with having no surgical intervention for right and left eyes, and were negatively associated with vertical and horizontal cup-disc ratios.

Increased OPA seems to correlate with less severe glaucoma and with increased CCT. DCT IOP seems to be affected by CCT along with GAT and TAT.