Falsely elevated intraocular pressure due to an abnormally thick cornea in a patient with nevus of Ota.

BACKGROUND

Several ocular complications, including glaucoma and ocular hypertension, have been reported in patients with nevus of Ota.

CASE

A 12-year-old boy with nevus of Ota on the left side of his face was referred for further examination of elevated intraocular pressure in his left eye.

OBSERVATIONS

Intraocular pressure measured with Goldmann tonometry was 19 mm Hg OD and 25 mm Hg OS. No visual field defects were detected by Goldmann or Humphrey perimetry. With ultrasonic pachymetry, the mean +/- SD of central corneal thickness was 560 +/- 4 microm in the right eye and 652 +/- 9 microm in the left.

CONCLUSION

Ophthalmologists should be aware that the abnormally thick cornea of patients with nevus of Ota may produce falsely elevated intraocular pressure readings.