SUMMARY
In an endemic area for Chagas' disease, 166 patients (83 chagasic and 83 non-chagasic) were evaluated Pressão intra-ocular na forma crônica da doença de Chagas in a paired and double-blind study to compare intraocular pressure (IOP). Nane had glaucoma, intraocular hypertension or disease capable to change IOP. The results showed that patients with chronic Chagas' disease had statistically significant lower mean IOP leveis (13.5 ± 2.3 mmHg) than controls (14.4 ± 2.4 mmHg) (p=0.04). A statistically significant direct correlation was found between age and IOP in the control group, which was not detected in the chagasic group. Chagasic males and females had lower IOP than their controls, but only for males the differences were statistically significant. No statistical differences were detected according IOP and race. The results showed that the IOP in chagasic patients was statistically lower than controls. The differences were more evident in males and in subjects above 40 years-old.
Key words:
Chagas' disease; Intraocular pressure