Evaluation of daily changes of Intraocular pressure in glaucomatous patients with modified diurnal tension curve versus water drinking test

Abstract

laucoma is a chronic optic neuropathy characterized by the excavation of the optic disc due to atrophy of the retinal ganglion cells. A progression of such atrophy leads to reduction of the visual field and eventually to the loss of sight at the end-stage of the disease, Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide (Resnikoff et al., 2004). Glaucoma treatment is based mainly on intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction to a level at which no additional damage is expected to occur. This level, the so called target IOP, is established on an individual basis and is usually assessed by single office measurement during working hours (Leske et al., 2003). IOP is the tension exerted by the aqueous humor as a result between its production and outflow from the globe. It is estimated as a transcorneal pressure gradient via indirect non-invasive tonometry, as there is at present time no safe and practical way to obtain the direct measurement. However, we will use the term “measurement” regarding IOP, as this has been used widely in the literature and in practice (De Moraes et al., 2008).