Background: Very few studies measuring the intraocular pressure (IOP) in students are available. Recognizing the higher prevalence of myopia among students, IOP was analyzed in 528 university students according to age, gender, and refractive error.
Methods: The IOP was measured in 1,056 eyes with the Keeler Pulsair noncontact tonometer. The refractive error was determined with an autorefractometer (Shin-Nippon brand, model QR-007).
Results: The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant influence of age and gender on students' IOP (mean IOP, 15.77 +/- 2.67 mmHg). Refractive error did not significantly influence the mean of IOP (ANOVA) in the different categories: (a) severe myopia, (b) medium myopia, (c) emmetropia and mild ametropia, and (d) hypermetropia. The chi 2 test revealed significant differences, as a result of age, between the eyes with IOP < 21 mmHg or > or = 21 mmHg (6.3%). Nevertheless, there was no significant IOP difference as a result of gender or refractive error among eyes with normal IOPs and eyes with IOP above 20 mmHg.
Conclusions: Among university students, intraocular pressure is not influenced by age, gender, or refractive status. Likewise, except for age, there is no significant correlation between any of the other variables and the normal range of IOP. After the age of 25 years, there is a slight increase in the number of eyes with an IOP above 20 mmHg.