PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of the body weight and body mass index (BMI) on the intraocular pressure (IOP) peaks and fluctuation in the water-drinking test (WDT) in primary open angle (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients, as well as normal eyes (NE). METHODS: Thirty-two eyes of 32 POAG patients, 30 eyes of 30 NTG patients and 20 eyes of 20 normal patients were evaluated in this transversal study. None of the patients were using antiglaucomatous drugs at the beginning of the study. The WDT was performed at 5:00 pm for further correlation between body weight, BMI and intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation. Analysis of variance, Bonferroni test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. Inherent to the methods used, p-values below 0,05 were considered to ensure statistical relevance. RESULTS: There was no statically significant difference between age (p=0,13), body weight (p=0,13) and BMI (0,83) in the three groups studied. There was significant correlation between body weight and IOP fluctuations (p=0,02; r=-0,42) and between BMI and IOP fluctuations (p=0,02; r=-0,41) in POAG patients. Body weight and BMI were not significantly associated with IOP peaks in the three groups. There was no statistically significant correlation between body weight, BMI and IOP fluctuations in NTG patients and in NE. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that knowledge of body weight and BMI is advisable before interpreting the WDT outcomes in POAG patients. POAG patients with higher body weight and BMI may present lower fluctuation in the WDT.
Open-angle glaucoma; Intra-ocular pressure; Diagnostic techniques, ophthalmological; Ocular tonometry; Body weight; Body mass index; Case control studies
