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Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:1175-1179 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.128819
  • Global issues

Ocular and systemic factors related to intraocular pressure in Japanese adults: the Tajimi study

  1. K Kawase1,
  2. A Tomidokoro2,
  3. M Araie2,
  4. A Iwase1,3,
  5. T Yamamoto1,
  6. Tajimi Study Group,
  7. Japan Glaucoma Society
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
  2. 2
    Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  3. 3
    Department of Ophthalmology, Tajimi Municipal Hospital, Tajimi, Japan
  1. Dr K Kawase, Department of Ophthalmology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu-shi, 501-1194, Japan; mekawase{at}gifu-u.ac.jp
  • Accepted 14 May 2008
  • Published Online First 31 July 2008

Abstract

Background: As intraocular pressure (IOP) and age are consistent risk factors of glaucoma, it is of special interest to know the association between IOP and possibly relating factors including age in Japan where a high prevalence of normal-tension glaucoma has been reported. The aim of this report was to evaluate the distribution of and factors related to applanation IOP in a population-based study in Japan.

Methods: A randomly sampled group of 3021 residents (response rate 78.1%) of Tajimi City, aged 40 years or older, underwent screening examinations including measurements of IOP with Goldmann applanation tonometry and central corneal thickness.

Results: Among right eyes without glaucoma, suspected glaucoma or other disorders which could affect correct IOP measurements, IOP averaged 14.6 (SD 2.7) and 14.5 (2.5) mm Hg in men and women, respectively, with no significant intergender difference (p = 0.342). Multiple regression analyses revealed that age was significantly negatively correlated with IOP (non-standardised beta (B) = −0.020/year, p = 0.0001). Higher body mass index (B = 0.14/BMI, p<0.0001), higher mean blood pressure (B = 0.022/mm Hg, p<0.0001), history of diabetes (p = 0.0019), thicker cornea (B = 0.014/μm, p<0.0001), higher myopia (B = 0.055/dioptres, p = 0.0043) and steeper corneal curvature (B = −0.72/mm, p = 0.0002) were also significantly correlated with higher IOP.

Conclusions: In an adult Japanese population, applanation IOP averaged 14.5 mm Hg and was negatively correlated with age after adjusting for other related factors. A positive correlation between IOP and myopia was found.

Footnotes

  • Funding: This work is supported by the Japan National Society for the Prevention of Blindness and the Japan Ophthalmologists Association.

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: The study protocol was approved by the local ethics committee of Tajimi City.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

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