Is There A Difference In Intraocular Pressure Measured With A Soft Contact Lens And Without Using Flurasafe?

BACKGROUND: Our goal is to ascertain if it is possible to accurately attain intraocular
pressure (lOP) readings over a contact lens while using a high molecular weight
fluorescein. FluraSafe™, an eye drop that both stains and anesthetizes the eye was used.
Fluraxafe" contains fluorexon disodium 0.35%, benoxinate HCr 0.4%. METHODS: We measured the rop of 88 normal eyes using Goldman applanation tonometry. A soft contact lens was then placed on the eyes and repeat measurements were taken. rop
measurement using conventional Goldmann tonometry with Fluraxafe" and without
contact lens wear was employed as the standard for comparison. The readings obtained
for the contact lens were then compared to the baseline readings taken without a lens in
place in order to assess the effect that the contact lens had on the accuracy of the rop
measurements. Pachymetry was performed on all eyes to find the correction factor for
each eye's rop reading. RESULTS: The soft contact lenses with Flure.Safe" permitted accurate rop measurements in eyes. CONCLUSIONS: There is no statistically significant difference (p=0.15) between lOP measured in the right eye with the soft contact lens or without. We also found no statistically significant difference (p=0.49) between rop measured in the left eye with the soft contact lens or without. Our results suggest that the proposed method is accurate and useful in determining rop prior to soft contact lens fitting.