How does a thick cornea during Goldmann tonometry affect IOP measurement?

In Goldmann tonometry, the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) can be influenced by the thickness of the cornea. A thicker cornea tends to create a greater resistance to the indentation caused by the tonometer's prism. As a result, the pressure reading obtained may be higher than the actual IOP within the eye because the instrument compensates for the additional resistance posed by the thicker corneal tissue.

This leads to the conclusion that IOP measurements in individuals with thicker corneas often overestimate the true intraocular pressure. The accuracy of tonometry readings is thus affected by variations in corneal thickness, making it vital to consider this factor when interpreting the results.

In contrast, a thinner cornea is likely to allow greater indentation and may lead to an underestimation of IOP. Furthermore, the measurement is not dependent on the patient's position, and while it is designed to reflect the IOP accurately under standard conditions, variations in corneal thickness necessitate careful interpretation of the results obtained through Goldmann tonometry.