AIM: To analyze of characteristic of intraocular pressure(IOP)distribution in population of 1115 Tibetan aged 40 years old or more and its correlative factors such as ages, gender and anterior chamber depth in Tibetan plateau area.

METHODS: A total of 1115 Tibetan permanent residents aged 40 years or older from the towns and villages of Qushui County were divided into four age groups: ≥40～<50 years, ≥50～<60 years, ≥60～<70 years, and≥70 years. All participants were carried out clinical ocular examinations including visual acuity, IOP, anterior chamber depth, ocular anterior segment and posterior segment examination. The relativity was analyzed during IOP, ages, gender and anterior chamber depth by SPSS 19.0.

RESULTS: The mean IOP of 1115(2145 eyes)Tibetan permanent residents aged 40 years or older was 12.9±2.7mmHg, 13.2±2.8mmHg in men and 12.7±2.5mmHg in women. The results showed that the participants with anterior chamber depth of 1/2 corneal thickness had 68.8% in 1115(2128 eyes)Tibetan permanent residents and anterior chamber depth decreases significantly with age(P<0.01), which anterior chamber depth(of 1/3 corneal thickness)was 19.3% aged ≥40～<50 subjects to 39.2% aged ≥70 subjects. Anterior chamber depth(1/3 corneal thickness)in women was significantly shallow than that in men(P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: The mean IOP of plateau subjects was significantly lower from that of plain subjects by approximately 3 mmHg. There are lower pressure, deeper anterior chamber depth in this population of 1115 Tibetan permanent residents. The more attention should be paid to screening for glaucoma in high plateau.