Trans Palpebral Intraocular Pressure Measurement by Diaton Tonometer and Central Corneal Thickness in Eyes before and after Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy of Saudi Patients.

Purpose: The influence of central corneal thickness (CCT) on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement by Diaton is debatable. We present a correlation of CCT to transpalpebral IOP (tpIOP) and its determinants in patients undergoing transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TPRK) in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study held in 2022, the IOP of patients undergoing TPRK was measured by Diaton tonometer. The CCT was measured before and 1 week after refractive surgery. The correlation coefficient of CCT and IOP and its Pearson value were estimated. The effects of gender, type of refractive error (RE), and corneal epithelial thickness (CET) on the correlation of IOP to CCT were reviewed.

Results: We studied 202 eyes in 101 patients (Male: Female, 47:53; age 25.7 ± 5.8 years). The tpIOP was 15.1 ± 2.8 mmHg before, 15.9 ± 2.8 mmHg 1 week after, and 15.7 ± 4.1 mmHg 1 month after TPRK. The CCT was significantly correlated with tpIOP before surgery (Pearson correlation 0.168, = 0.017) and after tPRK (Pearson correlation 0.246, < 0.001). Gender ( = 0.96), CET ( = 0.43), and type of RE ( = 0.99) were not significant determinants of correlation between CCT and tpIOP before TPRK. The correlation of tpIOP and CCT was not affected by gender ( = 0.07), CET ( = 0.39), and type of RE ( = 0.13).

Conclusion: CCT should be considered before interpreting tpIOP measured by with Diaton. Diaton could be a useful tool to monitor IOP changes in young patients undergoing refractive surgery.