An Observational Study to Compare the Intraocular Pressure between Systemic Hypertensive and Normotensive Patients Attending the Ophthalmology Outpatients Department at a Tertiary Care Centre in Gwalior City

Abstract

Background: Glaucoma and hypertension are asymptomatic in their initial stages. However, management of blood pressure (BP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) may improve the treatment and visual prognosis of glaucoma. The interaction between BP and IOP is related to the ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), which is an important factor in blood flow to the optic nerve. Therefore, this study aims to compare the IOP in non.glaucomatous patients between the systemic hypertensive group and the normotensive group. Material and Methods: The present observational comparative study was conducted on 80 systemic hypertensive and 80 normotensive patients visiting the outpatient department (OPD) of the ophthalmology department at a tertiary care centre in Gwalior City between April 2023 to July 2023. IOP was measured using a non.contact tonometer and BP with a digital machine attached to the patient's left arm in the sitting position by taking two readings during the same visit of the day, and an average value was obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS for Windows, Version 23.0 (IBM® Corporation, New York, United States). The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Chi.square test, Levene's test, independent samples t-test, Welch's t-test One-Way ANOVA, and Tukey Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test were applied. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In the present comparative study, 80 cases and 80 controls were taken with the average age of the cases being 62.64 ± 6.85 years, and among the controls the average age was 59.99 ± years. Among the cases, 76.2% had raised systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 47.5% had raised diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The average IOP among the cases for the right eye was 18.81 ± 4.10, while the average IOP among the controls for the right eye was 13.83 ± 2.83. IOP for the left eye among the cases was significantly higher among the cases (17.86 ± 4.27) as compared with the controls (14.33 ± 3.32). There was a significant variation in IOP in the systemic hypertensive group. Conclusion: This study revealed a positive relationship between BP and IOP. The tendency of increase in IOP was relatively greater in patients with uncontrolled hypertension, that is, for SBP >140 mmHg and DBP >90 mmHg. Our findings suggest that lower systemic BP is associated with lower IOP at presentation, which can further prevent the risk of developing glaucoma.