The reproducibility of the intraocular pressure response to dexamethasone.

The reproducibility of the intraocular pressure response to topical dexamethasone was investigated in 162 persons previously classified as low (NN), intermediate (NG), or high (GG) responders. The concordance of first and second test results was 71% for NN, 74% for NG, and 79% for GG responders, exceeding chance significantly for the NG and GG categories. Quantitative assessment revealed significant correlation of final pressure achieved on first and second tests (r equals .747, P LESS THAN .001). In the course of the study applications of dexamethasone to one eye were noted to have no effect on the intraocular pressure in the contralateral untreated eye, nor did testing of one eye influence the response of the contralateral eye in simultaneous bilateral testing. Using our data to estimate the reproducibility of topical testing in a general population, a value of 73% was obtained. That value was similar to the 65% concordance reported in an identical twin study, suggesting that the limited precision of topical testing accounts for the relatively low concordance found in that study.