Body mass influences IOP

The body mass index (BMI) of a patient affects intraocular pressure (IOP) readings, according to study results published in October issue of the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Verônica C. Lima of the department of ophthalmology at the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil and colleagues measured the height and weight of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients (n=41) and conducted the water-drinking test (WDT), evaluating IOP at four 15-minute intervals.

Dr Lima and colleagues found that patients with higher BMIs demonstrated lower peak IOP measurements when compared with lower BMI patients; the higher BMI patients also had smaller fluctuations in IOP measurements than lower BMI subjects. These differences, which related to both absolute and percentage variations, were statistically significant.

Thus the team concluded that BMI impacts WDT results to the extent that higher BMI produces lower peak IOP and reduced fluctuations in IOP levels.