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PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the influence of long waiting time on intraocular pressure (IOP) with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients in the waiting room of an ophthalmology clinic. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We reviewed 74 consecutive patients with POAG who visited at Kaimeido Ophthalmic and Dental Clinic within the past 8 years without change of glaucoma medications, 34 men and 40 woman, average age +/- standard deviation) 67.9 +/- 13.4 years. Right eye data of all patients were enrolled and IOP was split into 4 groups, short waiting time (< 30 min ; SH30) and long waiting time (> or = 60 min; LH60) in the hot (> or = 15 degrees C) season. Short waiting time (SC30) and long waiting time (LC60) in the cold (< or = 5 degrees C) season; according to the average outdoor air temperature in Sapporo Japan. All groups were compared each other (paired t test). RESULTS: There was a significant difference between SH30 (14.6 2.4 mmHg) and LH60 (14.9 +/- 2.4 mmHg; p = 0.038), between SC30 (14.6 +/- 2.4 mmHg) and LC60 (15.5 +/- 2.6 mmHg; p = 3.45 x 10(-7)) and between LH60 and LC60 (p = 0.00079). On the other hand, there was no significant difference between SH30 and SC30 (p = 0.89). CONCLUSION: This retrospective study suggests that patients with POAG show a transient IOP elevation after longer waiting time, especially during the cold season.
6.1.3 Factors affecting IOP (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods > 6.1 Intraocular pressure measurement; factors affecting IOP)