Increased Corneal Thickness Simulating Elevated Intraocular Pressure

A 17-year-old girl had intraocular pressure readings of 30 to 40 mm Hg in both eyes, with normal visual fields and optic nerve heads. Medical treatment was unsuccessful in lowering the IOP measurements substantially. The central corneal thickness was 0.90 mm in each eye in the absence of corneal edema. Cannulation of the left anterior chamber revealed an IOP of 11 mm Hg, while the Perkins' and Schiŏtz' tonometers gave readings of 35 and 34 mm Hg, respectively. Previously, elevated tonometry readings had been obtained by Goldmann's, Perkins', Schiŏtz', MacKay and Marg's, pneumatic tonometer and air puff tonometer. This suggested that measurement of central corneal thickness be performed in cases in which IOP recordings do not correspond to other clinical findings.