Helicobacter pylori eradication may positively influence glaucoma parameters, suggesting a possible causal link between H pylori and glaucoma.

H. pylori-specific IgG antibody levels are significantly increased in the aqueous humor and serum of patients with POAG and XFG. Moreover, the titer of anti- H. pylori antibody in the aqueous humor might reflect the severity of glaucomatous damage in POAG patients. These findings support a role for H. pylori infection in the pathobiology of these two common glaucomas.

Aims To compare the diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) efficacy and safety of timolol vs latanoprost in subjects with exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). Methods A 3-month prospective, singlemasked, active-controlled, parallel comparison performed in six centres in Greece that randomized subjects in a 1 : 1 ratio to either latanoprost in the evening (2000 hours) and placebo in the morning (0800 hours), or timolol twice daily (0800 and 2000 hours).Results In all, 103 subjects completed the study. After 3 months of chronic dosing, the latanoprost group exhibited a trend to a greater diurnal IOP reduction from an untreated baseline (24.973.2-17.472.9) compared with timolol (24.772.8-18.371.9 mmHg) (P ¼ 0.07). Latanoprost showed a significantly greater IOP reduction at 0800 hours (À8.5 vs À6.0 mm Hg for timolol, Po0.0001) whereas no difference was observed between the two medications at 1000, 1400, and 2000 hours after a Bonferroni Correction. In addition, latanoprost demonstrated a narrower range of diurnal IOP (2.4) than timolol (3.2 mmHg)(P ¼ 0.0017). Safety was similar between groups, except there was more conjunctival hyperaemia with latanoprost (n ¼ 8) than timolol (n ¼ 1)(P ¼ 0.01). Conclusions This study suggests that latanoprost provides a statistically lower 08:00-hour IOP and better range of IOP than timolol in the treatment of XFG glaucoma.

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Purpose To determine the incidence of glaucomatous progression at mean intraocular pressure (IOP) levels in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT). Methods A retrospective, multicentre, cohort analysis of 230 OHT patients with 5 years of follow-up evaluated for risk factors associated with progressive optic disc and visual field loss to determine the incidence of glaucomatous progression. Results Forty percent of patients with IOPs X24 mmHg, 18% of patients with IOPs of 21-23 mmHg, 11% of patients with IOPs with 18-20 mmHg, and 3% of patients with IOPs of p17 mmHg progressed to glaucoma. The mean IOP was 19.872.4 mmHg in the stable group and 21.772.6 mmHg in the progressed group (P ¼ 0.0004). The highest average peak IOP was 23.474.0 mmHg in the stable group and 25.273.1 mmHg in the progressed group (P ¼ 0.006). Based on the pachymetry values for central corneal thickness, patients with thinner corneas more often progressed to glaucoma (Po0.0001). A multivariant regression analysis to determine risk factors for progression was positive primarily for higher peak IOPs, older age, male gender, argon laser trabeculoplasty, visual acuity X20/50, and no topical medical therapy or b-blocker therapy prior to the study. Conclusions IOP reduction within the normal range over 5 years of follow-up reduces the chance of progression to primary openangle glaucoma in OHT patients.