Relationship of Ocular Pulse Amplitude with Eye Structures and Systemic Blood Pressure

Pur po se: To assess the relationship of ocular pulse amplitude with eye structures and systemic blood pressure in healthy subjects. Ma te ri al and Met hod: Fifty-one healthy subjects were included in the study. Ocular pulse amplitude measurement by Pascal dynamic contour tonometry, corneal pachymetry, axial length, anterior chamber depth, systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements were performed in addition to routine ophthalmologic examination. The factors related to ocular pulse amplitude were statistically evaluated. Re sults: The mean age of the patients was 30.98±14.4 (range: 16-66) years. Of 51 patients, 14 (27.5%) were male and 37 (72.5%) were female. The mean ocular pulse amplitude, axial length, anterior chamber depth, corneal pachymetry, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were as follows: 2.4±0.8mmHg, 23.4±0.8 mm, 3.2±0.3 mm, 547.2±30.7 μm, 118.2±8.8 mmHg, 76.8±4.6 mmHg. Correlation analysis showed significant association between ocular pulse amplitude and intraocular pressure (p=0.000). The associations of ocular pulse amplitude with age, gender, corneal pachymetry, anterior chamber depth, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were not significant. Linear regression analysis showed that axial length and intraocular pressure independently affected ocular pulse amplitude. Low ocular pulse amplitude was associated with low intraocular pressure and long axial length. Dis cus si on: Ocular pulse amplitude was significantly associated with intraocular pressure and axial length but not with age, gender and anterior eye structures. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2011; 41: 364-7)