The Effect of Eye Drops and Applanation Tonometry on Optical Biometry

Summary Vascular-ventricular coupling is a major determinant of left ventricular load. The aim of our study was to assess non- invasively left ventricular load and its dependency on central hemodynamics. Sixty-five healthy and gender-matched individuals were divided in two groups according to their age: 20y/o and 50y/o. Applanation tonometry was performed using the Sphygmocor device. Central pressures and pulse wave analysis indices were computed. Central systolic (120±3 vs. 98±2 mm Hg) and pulse pressures (43±3 vs. 29±1 mm Hg) as well as the augmentation index (AIx75) (23±3 vs. 6±2%) were significantly higher in the 50y/o group (p<0.01). These parameters are relevant markers of arterial stiffness and evidenced the development of central arterial morphological and functional alterations in the older subjects. The time-tension index (TTI) computed from the systolic pressure area was significantly higher in the 50y/o subjects as compared to the 20y/o group (2378±66 vs. 1954±73 mmHg×s, p<0.01). Moreover, we have shown the presence of significant correlation between TTI and AIx75 (p<0.01) in both age groups. This finding confirmed the contribution of arterial stiffness for the impaired vascular-ventricular coupling. In conclusion, applanation tonometry might be utilized for non-invasive evaluation of the left ventricular load, which is an important parameter of cardiovascular risk.

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Glaucoma at a tertiary referral eye hospital in Nepal

Nepalese Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.3126/nepjoph.v3i2.5263 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 123-127

Author(s):

I Paudyal ◽

SS Thapa ◽

G Paudyal ◽

R Gurung ◽

S Ruit

Keyword(s):

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma ◽

Open Angle Glaucoma ◽

Applanation Tonometry ◽

Acute Angle ◽

Secondary Glaucoma ◽

Angle Closure Glaucoma ◽

Field Analysis ◽

Angle Closure ◽

Open Angle ◽

Tertiary Referral

Background: Glaucoma is an important cause of blindness. Objective: To report the distribution of various types of glaucoma among patients presenting to a tertiary eye hospital in Nepal. Materials and methods: All new patients visiting the hospital between March 2007 and February 2008 underwent a comprehensive eye examination. Whenever glaucoma was suspected, patients were referred to fellowship-trained glaucoma specialists. Patients received a comprehensive glaucoma workup including applanation tonometry, stereoscopic examination of the optic nerve head performed by the glaucoma specialists, and a Humphrey visual field analysis (SITA 24 - 2). Results: 447 patients were newly diagnosed with glaucoma. 171 (38.2 %) patients had primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), while 143 (32 %) had primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). The average age of presentation of patients with POAG was 65.78 ± 9.1 years, while the average age for PACG patients was 54.6 ±12.8 years. 30 (21 %) patients with PACG had acute angle-closure on presentation, while 113 (79 %) had chronic angle closure glaucoma. 107 (75 %) of these patients with PACG had visual acuity of less than 3/60 (20/ 400) in the worse eye at presentation. The most common form of secondary glaucoma was lens-induced (5.3 %), followed by neovascular (3.2 %) and uveitic glaucoma (3.2 %). Conclusion: The most common glaucoma seen in a tertiary referral eye hospital of Nepal is primary open-angle glaucoma. Among the angle-closure glaucoma, chronic angle-closure is the most common. Lens-induced glaucoma is still the commonest cause of secondary glaucoma. Keywords: glaucoma, open-angle, angle-closure, lens-induced DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v3i2.5263 Nepal J Ophthalmol 2011; 3(2): 123-127

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