Fluctuations of the Intraocular Pressure in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Normal Eyes Measured by a Contact Lens Sensor.

Purpose: We compared the fluctuation of the intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PE) and individuals with normal healthy eyes. We measured continuous IOP using a SENSIMED Triggerfish contact lens sensor (CLS).

Methods: Eleven eyes with PE and 11 healthy eyes were examined. In all 22 participants, the IOP fluctuation was measured continuously for 24 hours with a CLS. The CLS could measure every 5 minutes. We evaluated IOP fluctuations over the 24-hour period separately for diurnal IOP and nocturnal IOP. We also identified each participant's maximum value. Changes in the corneal thickness and the corneal curvature were measured before and after the CLS use with anterior-segment optical coherence tomography.

Results: The mean IOP within the PE eyes was 20.3±3.9 mm Hg and that in the healthy eyes was 13.1±2.1 mm Hg (P<0.001). The 24-hour range of IOP fluctuations in the PE group was significantly larger than that in the healthy group (P=0.004). The central corneal thickness was significantly thicker after CLS use (P=0.011). The steeper meridian changed slightly to myopia (P=0.0068). All healthy eyes had their maximum value during the nocturnal period, whereas 7 of the 11 PE eyes (64%) had their maximum value in the nocturnal period.

Conclusions: The IOP fluctuation was larger in the eyes with PE than in the healthy eyes. This larger fluctuation might be one of the reasons underlying the aggravation of the visual field by PE. Measurements of 24-hour continuous IOP might be useful to evaluate IOP fluctuation.