Relationship between nocturnal intraocular pressure-related peak recorded by contact lens sensor and disease progression in treated glaucomatous eyes

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to study the association between Nocturnal Intraocular Pressure (IOP) related Peak recorded by a Contact Lens Sensor (CLS) and glaucoma progression in treated glaucomatous eyes. METHODS: Institutional study in which forty glaucoma patients were recruited from glaucoma clinic. A total of 19 patients were labeled as progressors on current anti-glaucoma treatment despite controlled day time IOP whereas twenty one patients were clinically stable showing no progression. Worse eye of each patient was selected for placement of CLS. The timing of the highest signal (IOP related peak) was noted in 24 hour CLS graph and if it fell within the time frame of 11 pm to 5 am, it was labeled as 'nocturnal IOP related peak'. RESULTS: Progressors were found to be significantly more prone to night spike than Non Progressors (χ(2) = 6.812; n = 40; P = 0.009), thus, showing a definite association between the two. Association between Nocturnal IOP related peak and various other variables like age, gender, mean daytime IOP and systemic illness was studied. A positive correlation was established between female gender and Nocturnal IOP related spike with a significantly higher proportion of females showing night spike than their male counterparts (χ(2) = 5.763; n = 40; P = 0.016). Other parameters did not show any significant relationship with Nocturnal IOP related spike. CONCLUSION: Dynamic 24 hour recording by CLS is beneficial in detecting nocturnal IOP-related peak, and thus, can potentially improve the clinical care of glaucoma patients, especially those showing progression.