Intraocular pressure over the clinical range of blood pressure: blue mountains eye study findings.

PURPOSE

To quantify the relation of blood pressure (BP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) across the clinical range of BP in an older phakic population not using glaucoma medications.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional population-based study

METHODS

Seated BP and applanation IOP were measured, and their relation was assessed in regression models.

RESULTS

Mean IOP of the two eyes increased linearly from 14.3 mm Hg for systolic BP <110 mm Hg to 17.7 mm Hg for systolic BP > or =200 mm Hg, a 3.4-mm Hg excursion over this range. Mean IOP also increased from 15.2 mm Hg for diastolic BP <70 to 18.4 mm Hg for diastolic BP > or =120, a similar variance. There were no changes after age and multivariate adjustments for IOP or after excluding undiagnosed glaucoma cases.

CONCLUSION

A 3-mm linear IOP increase over the clinical spectrum of BP levels was evident; this variance is greater than with most other systemic and ocular parameters.