Transpalpebral intraocular pressure measured by Diaton tonometer before, 1 week, and 1 month after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy in young myopic Saudi patients and its determinants

PURPOSE: To present changes in transpalpebral intraocular pressure (tpIOP) in eyes after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TPRK) in myopic Saudi patients and its determinants. METHODS: This one-armed cohort included the myopic eyes of Saudi adolescents treated with TPRK in 2020–2021. The difference in tpIOP before surgery, 1 week after surgery, and 1 month after surgery using Diaton was the main outcome. Central corneal thickness (CCT), myopia grade, gender, age, and corneal epithelial thickness before surgery were independent factors. Matched-pair analysis was conducted. The determinants of tpIOP post-TPRK were studied. RESULTS: Our cohort included 193 eyes of 97 participants (25.6 ± 5.8 years). Mild, moderate, and severe myopia were present in 93, 79, and 21 eyes, respectively. tpIOP was 22 mmHg or more in 5 and 8 eyes at 1-week and 1-month follow-up, respectively. The change in tpIOP ranged from − 7.00 to + 11.0 mmHg at 1 week and − 8.0 to + 26.0 mmHg at 1 month. The median change of CCT at 1 month was 59 μ. Change in tpIOP was not correlated with change in CCT at 1 month (r = −0.107, Pearson P = 0.14). Change of tpIOP was significantly correlated to spherical equivalent (SE) before surgery (matched-pair P < 0.001). SE (Mann–Whitney U P = 0.02) and tpIOP (Mann–Whitney U P = 0.02) before TPRK were significantly correlated to tpIOP >22 mmHg after TPRK. CONCLUSION: The changes in tpIOP following refractive surgery correlate to the refractive status of the eye and tpIOP before surgery.