Objective: To determine the relationship between intraocular pressure and systemic blood pressure as a justification for making
recommendations for better clinical investigation and management of patients.
Methods: The study was a hospital-based, cross-sectional analytical study conducted on non-glaucomatous patients aged 18 years
and above in the eye clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. All participants filled informed consent forms and underwent visual
acuity assessment, intraocular pressure measurement by applanation tonometry between 8am and 12 noon and blood pressure
measurement using digital sphygmomanometer, anterior and posterior segment examinations.
Results: Four hundred and twenty-two participants were studied with a mean age of 40.34±14.47 years and a female to male ratio of
1.7:1. The prevalence of high systemic blood pressure was 35.8%. The prevalence of ocular hypertension with high systemic blood
pressures was 19.9%.
There was a positive correlation between intraocular pressure and systemic blood pressure which was statistically significant
(p=0.001). The correlation coefficient (r) for the strength of the relationship between intraocular pressure and systemic blood
pressure was 0.193 (for systolic) and 0.139 (for diastolic) and these findings were statistically significant.
Conclusion: This study noted a higher intraocular pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressures among older participants
compared to the younger ones. There was a positive correlation between intraocular pressure and systolic blood pressure as well as
intraocular pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
It is recommended that blood pressure and intraocular pressure measurements be routinely done on all patients attending the eye
clinic (with emphasis on patients with systemic hypertension) in order to detect and manage ocular hypertension and glaucoma.