Evaluation of the influence of corneal biomechanical properties on intraocular pressure measurements using the ocular response analyzer.

PURPOSE The Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) proposes to measure corneal biomechanical properties in vivo by monitoring and analyzing the corneal behavior when this structure is submitted to a force induced by an air jet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between corneal biomechanical properties and corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPCC) measurements as obtained by the ORA and Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) measurements. DESIGN Observational clinical study. METHODS The study included 153 eyes of 78 subjects. All subjects underwent IOP evaluation with the ORA and GAT, and also measurements of central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal curvature, and axial length. Univariable and multivariable regression analysis were used to evaluate the associations between IOP (as measured with GAT and ORA) and CCT, corneal curvature, axial length, and age. Bland and Altman plots were used to evaluate the agreement between IOP measurements obtained by GAT and ORA. RESULTS GAT IOP measurements were significantly associated with CCT (P=0.001) and corneal curvature (P<0.001), whereas ORA IOPCC measurements were not associated with any of the ocular variables. The difference between GAT and IOPCC measurements was significantly influenced by corneal thickness. Patients with thicker corneas tended to have higher GAT IOP measurements compared with IOPCC, whereas in patients with thin corneas, GAT IOP measurements tended to be lower than IOPCC. CONCLUSIONS ORA IOPCC measurements seem to provide an estimate of IOP that is less influenced by corneal properties than those provided by GAT.