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Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:880-883 doi:10.1136/bjo.82.8.880
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Effects of short term increase of intraocular pressure on optic disc cupping

  1. Augusto Azuara-Blancoa,b,
  2. Alon Harrisb,c,
  3. Louis B Cantorb,
  4. Marcio M Abreuc,
  5. Monika Weinlandc
  1. aDepartment of Ophthalmology, Nottingham University Medical School, Nottingham, bDepartment of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, cDepartment of Physiology and Biophysics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
  1. Alon Harris, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46202–5175, USA.
  • Accepted 26 February 1998

Abstract

AIMS To evaluate the effect of acute elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) on optic disc cupping.

METHODS 10 emmetropic and 10 myopic volunteers were included in this study. The cup area (CA) and cup volume (CV) of the optic disc were determined with the Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT). After baseline determinations, a suction cup was used to increase the intraocular pressure (IOP) to 20–25 mm Hg above the baseline and HRT images were obtained.

RESULTS Baseline IOP was 13.5 (SD 1.3) mm Hg and 12.6 (2.6) mm Hg in the emmetropic and myopic groups, respectively. The IOP was elevated to 35.4 (3.3) mm Hg and 34.4 (2.5) mm Hg in the emmetropic and myopic groups, respectively. When compared with their baseline values, the cupping variables (CA and CV) were significantly increased (p<0.05) during the suction treatment in both emmetropic and myopic subjects.

CONCLUSION There was a significant enlargement in the optic disc cupping during the artificial increment of intraocular pressure in both emmetropic and myopic eyes. In non-glaucomatous eyes the optic nerve head has a partially dynamic topography dependent upon the level of IOP.

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