Assessment of diurnal tensional curve in early glaucoma damage.

We know very little about the relationship between the diurnal intraocular pressure variations and the progression of visual field loss. A prospective study of 149 eyes of 149 patients suffering from intraocular hypertension has been carried out through a minimum period of five years. At least 4 years before the appearance of field defects, we detected significant oscillations of IOP in the 64% of the cases prone to develop visual field loss. Likewise, we have found a statistically significant relationship between the presence of defects in the RNFL (retinal nerve fiber layer) and the existence of significant oscillations of IOP.