Corneal retardation time as an ocular hypertension disease indicator.

A clear relationship between the corneal retardation time and the corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc) was found, underlying the risk for ocular hypertensive (OHT) subjects with lower τ values to develop hypertension illnesses (due to the inability of poorly viscoelastic corneas to absorb IOP fluctuations, resulting in probable optic nerve damage). Significance. Our results might provide an useful tool to systematically discern which OHT patients (and even those with normal IOP values) are more likely to suffer glaucoma progression and, consequently, ensure an early diagnosis.&#xD.