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Cold temperatures may raise eye pressure in glaucoma patients (opens in a new tab)

news-medical.net · 2026-09-29

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Mixed

Mixed.

The claims we could check match the study, but some claims were not covered by the evidence reviewed.

2 supported
4 not covered

Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.

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The story

Cold temperatures may raise eye pressure in glaucoma patients

news-medical.net · 2026-09-29

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Mixed

Every claim we could check holds up. Two of six claims match the study. This overall rating is based only on the claims we could check. Four claims the study doesn't address.

2 supported
4 not covered

Open claim evidence

The source study

Effects of ambient temperature on intraocular pressure in patients with stable primary open-angle glaucoma under medical treatment

British Journal of Ophthalmology · 2026

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6 claims in this story

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Claim 1 of 6Not coveredPeople with more severe glaucoma seem to be more susceptible to the effects of ambient temperature.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The abstract profile reports overall temperature-IOP association and lists glaucoma stage/type among model covariates, but it does not report that patients with more severe glaucoma were more susceptible to ambient temperature or that there was a severity-by-temperature interaction/subgroup effect.

Study evidence

Ambient temperature was negatively associated with intraocular pressure in the adjusted longitudinal mixed-effects model.estimate = −0.029; p = 0.003

Study evidence

Mean blood pressure (mBP) was positively correlated with intraocular pressure (IOP) in the multivariable model.estimate=0.021; p<0.001

Claim 2 of 6Not coveredA lower ambient air temperature was associated with a significant increase in intraocular pressure, and a decrease in ambient temperature of 35°C was associated with a 1 mmHg increase in intraocular pressure.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated35°C decrease associated with 1 mmHg increase

Why this verdict

The significant negative association is supported by the abstract profile: estimate = -0.029, p = 0.003. However, the story's conversion to a 35°C decrease being associated with a 1 mmHg increase depends on the estimate's unit/scaling, which the abstract profile explicitly says is not specified at this depth.

Study evidence

Ambient temperature was negatively associated with intraocular pressure in the adjusted longitudinal mixed-effects model.estimate = −0.029; p = 0.003

Claim 3 of 6Not coveredAir temperature was significantly associated with intraocular pressure only in patients with severe glaucoma or those using multiple eye drops.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The abstract profile says number of eye-drops, glaucoma type, and time of day had significant effects on IOP fluctuation, but it does not state that ambient temperature was significantly associated with IOP only in severe glaucoma patients or only among those using multiple drops. The 'only' subgroup framing is not verifiable from the abstract profile.

Study evidence

Ambient temperature was negatively associated with intraocular pressure in the adjusted longitudinal mixed-effects model.estimate = −0.029; p = 0.003

Study evidence

Mean blood pressure (mBP) was positively correlated with intraocular pressure (IOP) in the multivariable model.estimate=0.021; p<0.001

Claim 4 of 6Not coveredThe researchers say further research with larger groups is needed, and note that the study was observational and could not establish cause and effect.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The observational, non-causal limitation is supported by the paper profile. However, the full claim also attributes to the researchers a need for further research with larger groups, which is not directly reported in the abstract-level profile, though it is consistent with the small single-center cohort limitation.

Study evidence

Ambient temperature was negatively associated with intraocular pressure in the adjusted longitudinal mixed-effects model.estimate = −0.029; p = 0.003

Study evidence

Mean blood pressure (mBP) was positively correlated with intraocular pressure (IOP) in the multivariable model.estimate=0.021; p<0.001

Claim 5 of 6SupportedLower air temperatures may be associated with an increase in intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The abstract-profiled primary result reports that ambient temperature was negatively associated with intraocular pressure in stable primary open-angle glaucoma patients, meaning lower temperature corresponds to higher IOP. The story frames this as a hedged association, which matches the observational evidence.

Study evidence

Ambient temperature was negatively associated with intraocular pressure in the adjusted longitudinal mixed-effects model.estimate = −0.029; p = 0.003

Claim 6 of 6SupportedThe researchers reviewed medical records of 77 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma treated at a university hospital in Japan between January 2012 and December 2023.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated77 patients

Why this verdict

The abstract profile supports a retrospective clinical-record/longitudinal analysis of 77 POAG patients at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Hospital during 2012–2023. The exact month endpoints are not detailed in the abstract profile, but the core sample, condition, setting, and year range are supported.

Study evidence

Ambient temperature was negatively associated with intraocular pressure in the adjusted longitudinal mixed-effects model.estimate = −0.029; p = 0.003

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Context layer

What the story left out

Important study details the story did not include.

Quantitative estimate: ambient temperature association estimate = -0.029 with p = 0.003, with the abstract profile not specifying the unit/scaling of the temperature increment.
The story translates the estimate into a 35°C decrease corresponding to 1 mmHg higher IOP, but it does not acknowledge the abstract-level limitation that the increment/scaling is not specified in the profile.
From retrospective longitudinal observational study
Sample structure: 2,655 IOP measurements from 154 eyes of 77 patients, with mean follow-up of about 5.2 years.
The story states the number of patients but does not reflect the repeated-measures structure, number of eyes, or mean follow-up, which are material to understanding the longitudinal model.
From retrospective longitudinal observational study; Retrospective longitudinal cohort; multivariable linear mixed-effects mo
Secondary covariate findings: mean blood pressure was positively associated with IOP; CCT and season showed trends; number of eye-drops, glaucoma type, and time of day significantly affected IOP fluctuation.
The story mentions multiple eye drops in a temperature-susceptibility framing, but it does not convey the broader secondary covariate findings reported in the abstract profile, especially mean blood pressure and time-of-day effects.
From Retrospective longitudinal cohort; multivariable linear mixed-effects model (eye-level random effect)
Generalizability limitation: the cohort was single-center and selected for stable management, including no surgery, no medication change, age ≥40, and frequent follow-up.
The story notes a Japanese university-hospital setting and says no poorly controlled IOP patients were included, but it does not fully present the single-center/selected stable-treatment eligibility constraints as a limitation on generalizability.
From retrospective longitudinal observational study; Retrospective longitudinal cohort; multivariable linear mixed-effects mo

3 things the story did carry across

Primary study design and setting: a retrospective longitudinal observational study of medically treated, stable primary open-angle glaucoma patients at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Hospital from 2012–2023.
Primary finding: ambient temperature was negatively associated with intraocular pressure in the adjusted mixed-effects model.
Causal limitation: the evidence is retrospective and observational, so causal inference is limited and residual confounding is possible.

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Pieces of work

Evidence read

study summary

Lead result

human in vivo

1Lead resulthuman in vivoEstimate the association between ambient temperature and intraocular pressure (IOP) over time in medically treated, stable primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.retrospective longitudinal observational studyExpand

In plain English

Retrospective longitudinal observational analysis of repeated Goldmann-applanation IOP measurements from medically treated, stable POAG patients (Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Hospital, 2012–2023) using eye-level linear mixed-effects models to estimate the association between ambient temperature and IOP. In 2655 IOP measurements from 154 eyes of 77 patients (mean age 65.8 years; mean follow-up 5.2 years), ambient temperature was negatively associated with IOP (estimate = −0.029; p = 0.003) after adjustment for multiple clinical and meteorological covariates; mean blood pressure was positively associated with IOP (estimate = 0.021; p < 0.001).

Key findings

Ambient temperature was negatively associated with intraocular pressure in the adjusted longitudinal mixed-effects model.estimate = −0.029; p = 0.003
Mean blood pressure was positively associated with intraocular pressure in the adjusted model.estimate = 0.021; p < 0.001

What this piece can’t prove

Retrospective observational single-center study (Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Hospital).
Selected study population: patients aged ≥40 years with stable medical management (no surgery, no medication change) and frequent follow-up (≥3 visits/year for ≥3 years), which may limit generalizability.
Abstract does not specify the temperature increment corresponding to the reported estimate or other model scaling details.

2human in vivoIdentify and adjust for other clinical, ocular, and meteorological factors (eg, mean blood pressure, central corneal thickness, time of day, season, glaucoma type, number of eye-drops) associated with longitudinal IOP variation in this cohort.Retrospective longitudinal cohort; multivariable linear mixed-effects model (eye-level random effect)Expand

In plain English

In this retrospective longitudinal cohort of medically treated stable POAG patients (154 eyes of 77 patients; 2,655 IOP measurements; mean follow-up ~5.2 years), multivariable linear mixed-effects modelling with eye as a random effect identified several clinical, ocular, and temporal covariates associated with intraocular pressure (IOP). Mean blood pressure (mBP) was positively associated with IOP (estimate=0.021; p<0.001). Central corneal thickness (CCT) showed a trend toward association. Number of eye-drops used, glaucoma type, and time of day had statistically significant effects on IOP fluctuation; season tended to have an effect. These estimates derive from the same fixed-effects model that adjusted for multiple ocular biometry and meteorological variables.

Key findings

Mean blood pressure (mBP) was positively correlated with intraocular pressure (IOP) in the multivariable model.estimate=0.021; p<0.001
Central corneal thickness (CCT) tended to be associated with IOP.

What this piece can’t prove

Retrospective observational design limits causal inference and is susceptible to residual confounding and selection biases.
Single-center cohort (Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Hospital) and inclusion criteria (stable treatment, no surgeries) may limit generalisability to other POAG populations.
Potential measurement or timing variability in IOP assessments (although time of day was included as a covariate).

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

Finally, the search trail

Method layer

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Open the paper in Tessa

Effects of ambient temperature on intraocular pressure in patients with stable primary open-angle glaucoma under medical treatment

British Journal of Ophthalmology · 2026

Source record

Why this one

Near certain

NewsLink found the paper. Tessa is where you inspect it deeply.

Papers considered

The selected paper, plus nearby candidates.

Crossref, PubMed, Europe PMC · 16 candidate papers

Selected

Effects of ambient temperature on intraocular pressure in patients with stable primary open-angle glaucoma under medical treatment

British Journal of Ophthalmology · 2026 · Crossref

Source

Candidate

Measurement of intraocular temperature in glaucoma: week-day and seasonal fluctuations.

The British Journal of Ophthalmology · 2023 · PubMed

Tessa Source

Candidate

The Beneficial Effects of Photobiomodulation to Reduce Intraocular Pressure in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Crossref

Source

Candidate

Multi-omics Mendelian randomization analysis identifies SPATA20 as a cross-omic target in primary open angle glaucoma.

2026 · Europe PMC

Tessa Source

Candidate

Age at Glaucoma Diagnosis in Germline Myocilin Mutation Patients: Associations with Polymorphisms in Protein Stabilities.

Genes · 2021 · PubMed

Tessa Source

CandidateOpen access

Altered serum biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in primary open-angle glaucoma.

2026 · Europe PMC

Tessa Source

And 10 more candidates considered.

Mixed.

Cold temperatures may raise eye pressure in glaucoma patients

Mixed

Effects of ambient temperature on intraocular pressure in patients with stable primary open-angle glaucoma under medical treatment

Effects of ambient temperature on intraocular pressure in patients with stable primary open-angle glaucoma under medical treatment

The selected paper, plus nearby candidates.

Effects of ambient temperature on intraocular pressure in patients with stable primary open-angle glaucoma under medical treatment

Measurement of intraocular temperature in glaucoma: week-day and seasonal fluctuations.

The Beneficial Effects of Photobiomodulation to Reduce Intraocular Pressure in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Multi-omics Mendelian randomization analysis identifies SPATA20 as a cross-omic target in primary open angle glaucoma.

Age at Glaucoma Diagnosis in Germline Myocilin Mutation Patients: Associations with Polymorphisms in Protein Stabilities.

​Altered serum biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in primary open-angle glaucoma.

Altered serum biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in primary open-angle glaucoma.