Effect of Excimer Laser Photorefractive Keratectomy on Goldmann Applanation Tonometry.

Min, Hong Kee; Choi, Young In; Ghim, Dae Geun

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 1995;36(11):2022-2028.
Published online November 1, 1995.

Effect of Excimer Laser Photorefractive Keratectomy on Goldmann Applanation Tonometry.

Hong Kee Min, Young In Choi, Dae Geun Ghim

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Hanil General Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
²Ghim's Eye Clinic, Seoul, Korea.

엑시머레이저 근시교정술이 Goldmann 압평안압계로 측정한 안압에 미치는 영향

최영인(Young In Choi),민홍기(Hong Kee Min),김대근(Dae Geun Ghim)

Abstract

It can be speculated that the thinned and flattened central cornea after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) might give a falsely low Goldmann applanation tonometer(GAT) reading. We studied 353 eyes of 264 patients who underwent PRK to determine the effect of excimer laser PRK on the accuracy of Goldmann applanation tonometry. PRK was done with a VISX 20/20 excimer laser and topical fluorometholone was used after PRK. The intraocular pressure(IOP) was measured with the GAT before surgery and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. The mean ablation depth of the cornea was 71.4 +/- 22.0 micrometer, and the eyes were divided into three groups according to their ablation depths. The mean postoperative IOP measured with the GAT decreased as compared with the mean preoperative IOP(P<0.01). The mean postoperative IOP at 9 or 12 months was lower than that at 1, 3, or 6 months(p<0.05). The mean IOP(11.9 +/- 2.5 mmHg) at 12 months was 2.8 mmHg lower than the mean preoperative IOP(14.7 +/- 2.7 mmHg). There was no statistically significant difference in the amount of postoperative IOP decrease among the three groups.

Key Words: Corneal thickness;Excimer laser PRK;Goldmann applanation tonometry