J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1998 Jul;39(7):1494-1498.

The Influence of Central Corneal Thickness on Intraocular Pressures Measured with Goldmann Applanation Tonometer and Non-contact Tonometer

• Kwon GR
• Kang SW
• Kee C

Abstract

It is well documented that increased corneal thickness leads to artificially high estimations of intraocular pressure(IOP) measured with applanation tonometer. To evaluate the influence of central corneal thickness on IOPs measured with non-contact tonometer and Goldmann applanation tonometer and on the IOP discrepancies between two tonometer according to corneal thickness, the IOPs and central corneal thickness of 96 eyes of 48 persons who visited to have their high IOPs evaluated were measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer, non-contact tonometr(CT-50, Topcon, Japan), and corneal pachometer(Humphrey ultrasonic pachometer-850). IOPs measured with each tonometer showed statistically significant linear correlation(p<0.001), IOP rises as the corneal thickness increases(p<0.001), IOPs measured with non-contact tonometer were higher than those measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer(p<0.001), but there were no significant differences between the IOP discrepancies of each tonometer according to corneal thickness, and between the IOP and age in a consistant corneal thickness(p>0.1). In conclusion, the central corneal thickness must be considered in estimating IOP and the IOP differences measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer and non-contact tonometer were not statistifically significantly increased as the corneal thickness increased.

Keyword

Central corneal thickness; Goldmann applanation tonometer; Intraocular pressure; Non-contact tonometer

MeSH Terms

Humans
Intraocular Pressure*
Ultrasonics