In the absence of raised intraocular pressure (IOP), haemodynamic parameters have been implicated in the development of normal tension glaucoma (NTG). The purpose of this study is to compare 24-hour IOP and haemodynamic parameters in NTG patients and non-glaucoma patients.
Introduction: Short-term fasting may influence intraocular pressure (IOP) due to alteration of fluid (total body water;
TBW, and water intake) and fat (total body fat; TBF). This study aimed: i) to compare IOP values within and between,
fasting and non-fasting periods; and ii) to assess the association between IOP and, TBW and TBF. Methods: Thirty
healthy participants aged 21.8±1.1 years were assessed on two different periods (fasting vs. non-fasting). During each
period, the IOP, TBW and TBF values were assessed for four times (morning, afternoon, evening, late-evening). The
IOP was measured using AccuPen® tonopen, while TBW and TBF were assessed by using a Tanita body composition
analyser. Results: During fasting, the IOP value in the afternoon (14.53±2.33 mmHg) was significantly higher than in
the evening (12.43±2.73 mmHg, p=0.009) and late-evening (12.60±2.44 mmHg, p=0.003). No significant difference
in IOP was observed during non-fasting period. The mean of IOP in the evening was significantly lower during fasting
compared to non-fasting (12.43±2.73 mmHg vs 13.75±2.53 mmHg, p=0.044). The IOP and TBW were negatively
correlated (r=-0.268; p=0.011) during non-fasting and showed no association during fasting period. There was no
significant correlation between IOP and TBF during both fasting and non-fasting periods. Conclusion: IOP reduction
during short-term fasting, together with the no association with TBF and TBW suggested that IOP is an independent
factor that reduces during fasting in healthy population.
This study reviewed the trabeculectomies (TEs) carried out in University Malaya Medical Center between 1994 to 1998. One hundred and nine of 132 eyes operated were in the primary glaucoma group of which 63 (47.7%) were of the open angle type and 46 (34.8%) were of the angle closure type. Twenty-three eyes belong to the secondary glaucoma group. Sixty-five eyes had plain or non-augmented trabeculectomy (TE) while 20 were augmented with mitomycin C (MMC) and 11 with 5 flourouracil (5FU). In 31 eyes the plain TEs were combined with extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and 4 with phacoemusification. One case had combined ECCE and augmented trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C. The patients were followed up at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Ninety-four of 132 (71.2%) eyes had successful surgery with intraocular pressure (IOP) of less than 21 mmHg (tonometric success) at the end of 2 years. Four of these patients needed topical medication for the IOP control. More failures were seen in patients with cystic blebs than those with diffuse blebs. Complications include hypotony, shallow anterior chamber, cataracts and hyphaema. The majority of cases (53%) had no complications.