The Effect of Wearing N95 Respirator Masks on Intraocular Pressure of Health Care Workers

Objective: We determined if there was a significant change in the intraocular pressure (IOP) of healthcare workers with extended use of N95 masks. Methods: This was a prospective time-series study involving 58 eyes of 29 healthcare workers who were assigned to 3 groups: surgical mask (control) an...

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Main Authors: Denise Patricia M. Granada, MD, Paolo S. Silva, MD, Rainier Victor A. Covar, MD, MMed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology 2022-12-01
Series:Philippine Journal of Ophthalmology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://paojournal.com/index.php/pjo/article/view/52
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author Denise Patricia M. Granada, MD
Paolo S. Silva, MD
Rainier Victor A. Covar, MD, MMed
author_facet Denise Patricia M. Granada, MD
Paolo S. Silva, MD
Rainier Victor A. Covar, MD, MMed
author_sort Denise Patricia M. Granada, MD
collection DOAJ
description Objective: We determined if there was a significant change in the intraocular pressure (IOP) of healthcare workers with extended use of N95 masks. Methods: This was a prospective time-series study involving 58 eyes of 29 healthcare workers who were assigned to 3 groups: surgical mask (control) and 2 intervention arms consisting of valved N95 (8511, 3M, USA) and non-valved N95 (8210, 3M, USA) masks. Each participant underwent IOP measurements of both eyes by Goldmann applanation tonometry at baseline, 5 minutes, 1 and 4 hours of mask use on three separate days. The primary outcome was the difference in IOP between the N95 and surgical mask groups. Results: Mean baseline IOP of the cohort was 13.85 ± 1.11 mmHg with no significant difference among the groups. Compared to surgical mask use, mean IOP was increased at the 1 hour and 4 hour time points with valved N95 use (+0.88, p<0.001; +1.48, p<0.001 respectively) and increased at the 5 minute, 1 hour and 4 hour time points with nonvalved N95 use (+0.52, p=0.01; +1.07 p<0.001; +1.62, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: There was a statistically significant increase in IOPs with prolonged N95 mask use. However, the levels of IOP increase were less than 2 mmHg and may be not clinically significant.
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spelling doaj-art-7d1e0108fb8b4e4aa08e7e61600973262025-08-20T02:57:18ZengPhilippine Academy of OphthalmologyPhilippine Journal of Ophthalmology0031-76592022-12-01472879152The Effect of Wearing N95 Respirator Masks on Intraocular Pressure of Health Care WorkersDenise Patricia M. Granada, MD0Paolo S. Silva, MD1Rainier Victor A. Covar, MD, MMed2The Medical City – Eye and Vision Institute, Pasig City, PhilippinesThe Medical City – Eye and Vision Institute, Pasig City, PhilippinesThe Medical City – Eye and Vision Institute, Pasig City, PhilippinesObjective: We determined if there was a significant change in the intraocular pressure (IOP) of healthcare workers with extended use of N95 masks. Methods: This was a prospective time-series study involving 58 eyes of 29 healthcare workers who were assigned to 3 groups: surgical mask (control) and 2 intervention arms consisting of valved N95 (8511, 3M, USA) and non-valved N95 (8210, 3M, USA) masks. Each participant underwent IOP measurements of both eyes by Goldmann applanation tonometry at baseline, 5 minutes, 1 and 4 hours of mask use on three separate days. The primary outcome was the difference in IOP between the N95 and surgical mask groups. Results: Mean baseline IOP of the cohort was 13.85 ± 1.11 mmHg with no significant difference among the groups. Compared to surgical mask use, mean IOP was increased at the 1 hour and 4 hour time points with valved N95 use (+0.88, p<0.001; +1.48, p<0.001 respectively) and increased at the 5 minute, 1 hour and 4 hour time points with nonvalved N95 use (+0.52, p=0.01; +1.07 p<0.001; +1.62, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: There was a statistically significant increase in IOPs with prolonged N95 mask use. However, the levels of IOP increase were less than 2 mmHg and may be not clinically significant.https://paojournal.com/index.php/pjo/article/view/52goldmann applanationintraocular pressuren95 maskglaucomasurgical maskbreathing resistance
spellingShingle Denise Patricia M. Granada, MD
Paolo S. Silva, MD
Rainier Victor A. Covar, MD, MMed
The Effect of Wearing N95 Respirator Masks on Intraocular Pressure of Health Care Workers
Philippine Journal of Ophthalmology
goldmann applanation
intraocular pressure
n95 mask
glaucoma
surgical mask
breathing resistance
title The Effect of Wearing N95 Respirator Masks on Intraocular Pressure of Health Care Workers
title_full The Effect of Wearing N95 Respirator Masks on Intraocular Pressure of Health Care Workers
title_fullStr The Effect of Wearing N95 Respirator Masks on Intraocular Pressure of Health Care Workers
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of Wearing N95 Respirator Masks on Intraocular Pressure of Health Care Workers
title_short The Effect of Wearing N95 Respirator Masks on Intraocular Pressure of Health Care Workers
title_sort effect of wearing n95 respirator masks on intraocular pressure of health care workers
topic goldmann applanation
intraocular pressure
n95 mask
glaucoma
surgical mask
breathing resistance
url https://paojournal.com/index.php/pjo/article/view/52
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