[A new screening method for determining tolerant intraocular pressure]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a critical factor in glaucoma pathogenesis.
• Current methods for assessing glaucoma risk may not fully capture individual ocular tolerance to pressure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a novel screening method for determining individual tolerant intraocular pressure (TIOP).
• To establish a relationship between ocular blood flow (OBF), anteroposterior ocular axis (APOA) length, and IOP.
• To identify a high-risk group for glaucoma based on TIOP measurements.

Main Methods:

• Investigated 107 individuals (167 eyes), divided into healthy volunteers and new-onset glaucoma patients.
• Analyzed the regression relationship between ocular blood flow (OBF) and anteroposterior ocular axis (APOA) length.
• Developed a formula to calculate TIOP: TIOP = P x K/K(n), incorporating tonometric IOP (P), flowmetric OBF (K), and individual normal OBF (K(n)) derived from a nomogram accounting for APOA.

Main Results:

• A significant regression relationship and high correlation were found between OBF and APOA.
• The proposed formula allows for the calculation of individual tolerant intraocular pressure (TIOP).
• Patients with TIOP lower than their current IOP, even without glaucoma symptoms, were identified as a potential risk group.

Conclusions:

• The developed screening method provides a new approach to assess individual tolerance to intraocular pressure.
• Understanding the buffer range of excessive IOP is crucial for predicting adverse ocular outcomes.
• This TIOP screening can aid in early identification and management of individuals at risk for glaucoma.