The authors aimed to investigate the effect on using an eyelid speculum (Barraquer wire eyelid speculum) on IOP measurement in newborns with a mean age of 37 weeks under topical anesthesia. Mean gestational age at birth and mean post-conceptual age at time of assessment was 32.46 ±2.82 weeks and 37.27 ±2.52 weeks. Mean birth weight was 2106 ±621g. Mean weight at examination was 3028 ±772g. Mean IOP without speculum was 9.04 ±2.13mmHg (right eye) and 9.26 ±1.59mmHg (left eye) and, with speculum, was 11.91 ±2.23mmHG and 11.70 ±1.89mmHg (right and left eyes). There was no significant difference for gender and IOP and for age at examination or weight. Overall, use of a speculum raised IOP by an average of 2.65 mmHG and should be considered in the assessment of IOP in newborns.