The Effect of Various Contact Lenses on Intraocular Pressure Measurement by Goldman Tonometer

Background: Today, contact lenses have extensive usages. Contact lens places on cornea, so it may induce variation on cornea and these variations can influence the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) by Goldman tonometer. The aim of this research was to study the effect of various contact lenses on measurement of intraocular pressure by Goldman tonometer.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 80 subjects aged 18-25 were selected randomly among patients of Al-Zahra ophthalmology center. None of them has any eye pathological problems. Before wearing the lens, intraocular pressure was measured, and then patients were divided into two groups of soft and hard contact lenses. Soft and hard contact lenses were placed on the eye for two hours, and the intraocular pressure was measured again.

Results: The mean of IOP before wearing contact lenses and two hours later was 15.96 mmHg and 13.93, s respectively. Paired test showed a significant difference between IOP before and after wearing contact lenses (p=0.001).There was no significant differences in mean of intraocular pressure decline before and after placing the contact lens in both soft and hard lenses.

Conclusion: According to this study, the intraocular pressure decreases after wearing contact lenses (CL). This decline may be due to variation in properties of cornea after wearing CL that can also affect IOP measurement.