Intraocular pressure measurements obtained as part of a comprehensive geriatric health examination from cats seven years of age or older

OBJECTIVE: To determine intraocular pressure (IOP) in cats > or = 7 years of age undergoing a routine comprehensive geriatric health examination. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 538 cats (1,068 eyes). PROCEDURE: IOP was measured by applanation tonometry following instillation of 0.5% proparacaine. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD IOP for all eyes was 12.3 +/- 4.0 mm Hg (range, 4 to 31 mm Hg). Mean age was 12.3 +/- 2.9 years. Intraocular pressure did not vary significantly cross-sectionally with age. However, in 78 cats, IOP was measured more than once, and follow-up measurements were significantly less than initial measurements (mean time between measurements, 9.4 +/- 3.0 months). The most useful tonometric criteria for identifying ocular abnormalities on the basis of IOP was an IOP > or = 25 mm Hg (mean + 3 SD) or a difference in IOP between eyes > or = 12 mm Hg. Eight cats met these criteria, and 5 of these cats had ophthalmic abnormalities. Low IOP was a nonspecific indicator of the presence of ocular abnormalities, as 111 cats had an IOP < or = 8 mm Hg, but only 2 had uveitis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that IOP measurements can be a useful addition to a comprehensive geriatric health examination in cats > or = 7 years of age, especially when combined with an ophthalmic examination. Cats without ocular abnormalities that have lOP > or = 25 mm Hg or a > or = 12 mm Hg difference in IOP between eyes should have tonometry repeated or be referred to an ophthalmologist for further evaluation before beginning antiglaucoma treatment.