01930nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653001500058653001000073653000900083653003000092653001800122653001100140653001100151653002500162653001200187653000900199653001600208653002300224653002100247100001400268700001300282700001200295700001400307245012000321300001100441490000800452520113000460022001401590       1992                            d  c1992 Oct 1510aAdolescent10aAdult10aAged10aEye Infections, Bacterial10aFamily Health10aFemale10aHumans10aIntraocular Pressure10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aOcular Hypotension10aUrban Population1 aHussein N1 aChiang T1 aEhsan Q1 aHussain R00aIntraocular pressure decrease in household contacts of patients with Hansen's disease and endemic control subjects.  a479-830 v1143 a<p>We compared the intraocular pressure in 150 urban household contacts of patients with Hansen's disease and 132 endemic control subjects from an urban population in Karachi, Pakistan, who were matched in regard to race, age, gender, and socioeconomic status. The mean intraocular pressure in the upright position was 12.6 mm Hg in the right eye and 12.9 mm Hg in the left eye in household contacts of patients with Hansen's disease and 15.3 mm Hg in the right eye and 15.4 mm Hg in the left eye in the endemic control population (P < .0005). The postural change in intraocular pressure from the upright to supine position was 1.7 mm Hg in the right eye and 2.1 mm Hg in the left eye in the household contacts group and 1.3 mm Hg in the right eye and 1.5 mm Hg in the left eye in the endemic control group (P < .0006). Our findings, especially in view of past observations in intraocular pressure changes in patients with Hansen's disease, raise serious questions about possible early ocular susceptibility to Mycobacterium leprae infection and about public health issues, including possible early indication of disease.</p>  a0002-9394