Physiological variables affecting intraocular pressure in a population study.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) and several other parameters were measured on 560 subjects as part of a vision and health screening program. The sample included a large proportion of American Indians with diabetes (15.2%) and obesity. Multiple regression analysis showed that the percentage of ideal body weight index and average blood pressure both had independent effects on IOP, whereas age, blood sugar, sex, degree of Indian blood, and diabetes did not, although the latter three variables narrowly missed having a statistically significant effect in at least one eye. The analysis of variance showed that diabetes was associated with elevated IOP. This association was independent of random blood sugar, blood pressure, obesity index, and age.