Clinical Impact of Measurement Timing on Intraocular Pressure in Dogs.

Standardize IOP measurement timing in dogs, as pressure decreases significantly within five minutes of presentation.

This prospective observational study investigated whether intraocular pressure (IOP) in dogs varies depending on the timing of measurement after patient presentation to an ophthalmology clinic. A total of 88 eyes from 44 dogs undergoing their first ophthalmologic examination were evaluated by a single examiner. IOP was measured immediately after history taking with the owner absent (IOP_0min) and again five minutes later following Schirmer tear test-1 and neuro-ophthalmic examination (IOP_5min). Results demonstrated a statistically significant mean reduction in IOP from 16.55 ± 4.63 mmHg to 13.06 ± 3.44 mmHg over the five-minute interval (p < 0.001). This reduction was consistent across all subgroups stratified by sex, body weight, age, and visual status. Notably, female dogs and those weighing more than 5 kg exhibited significantly greater IOP reductions compared to males and smaller dogs (p < 0.05), while age and visual status did not influence the degree of change. The clinical significance of these findings is substantial, as a mean decrease of approximately 3.5 mmHg within minutes could affect diagnostic thresholds for conditions such as glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The authors advocate for standardization of IOP measurement timing in clinical practice to improve accuracy, reproducibility, and the validity of serial comparisons. Clinicians should be aware that early measurements may overestimate true IOP, potentially influencing treatment decisions and monitoring protocols.

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