Intraocular pressure over the clinical range of blood pressure: Blue Mountains Eye Study findings.

PURPOSE: To quantify the relation of blood pressure (BP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) across the clinical range of BP in an older phakic population not using glaucoma medications. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population,based study METHODS: Seated BP and applanation IOP were measured, and their relation was assessed in regression models. RESULTS: Mean IOP of the two eyes increased linearly from 14.3 mm Hg for systolic BP < 110 mm Hg to 17.7 mm Hg for systolic BP 200 mm Hg, a 3.4-mm Hg excursion over this range. Mean IOP also increased from 15.2 mm Hg for diastolic BP < 70 to 18.4 mm Hg for diastolic BP >= 120, a similar variance. There were no changes after age and multivariate adjustments for IOP or after excluding undiagnosed glaucoma cases. CONCLUSION: A 3-mm linear IOP increase over the clinical spectrum of BP levels was evident; this variance is greater than with most other systemic and ocular parameters.