Ocular white coat hypertension: A pilot study

The aim of the present study is to detect and characterize the possible white coat effect on the measurement of Intraocular Pressure (IOP). This has been widely studied on the measurement of blood-pressure; however its effect on IOP measurement has yet to be assessed. In order to achieve this, a pilot field study was conducted amongst fourteen volunteers taken from the customers of an optical centre in Barcelona. IOP measurements were performed at three stages: after a questionnaire phase, after optometry and after a recovery phase. The effect of threat and control perception linked to IOP was evaluated. Descriptive analyses suggest the existence of a white-coat hypertension effect on IOP measurements modulated by control perception linked to the measurement procedure. Finally, the possible applications and limitations of these findings are discussed.