Water load testing in patients with advanced/end-stage glaucoma

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of the water load test (WLT) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in open-angle glaucoma patients with advanced/end-stage disease.
Method: Prospective clinical study conducted in patients with advanced/end-stage open-angle glaucoma (with and without prior glaucoma surgery, with and without medication) who underwent the WLT (1 liter of water administered over 5 minutes) and whose IOP at baseline and 15, 30 and 45 minutes after administration was measured.
Results: IOP values obtained were the following (mean and standard deviation): Baseline: 12.61 ± 2.02 mmHg; Minute 15: 14.53 ± 3.17 mmHg; Minute 30: 16.15 ± 3.26 mmHg, and Minute 45: 14.84 ± 2.79 mmHg. Comparison of the results evidenced a statistically significant difference at minute 30 vs. baseline values (p= 0.013).
Conclusion: Drinking 1000 ml of water over a period of 5 minutes increases IOP in patients with advanced/end-stage glaucoma. Further studies should evaluate the significance of these facts when patients have to undergo similar situations, such as kidney-bladder, prostate and gynecologic ultrasounds.