Effect of Myopia on Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Abstract

Objective: It is a retrospective study to evaluate the effect of myopia on primary open-angle glaucoma by classifying the eyes into NMG (non-myopic glaucoma), HMG (highly myopic glaucoma) And MMG (mild to moderate myopic glaucoma).
 Methods: The study was performed on 120 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma who were medically treated. Any participant who had surgery done was excluded from the study. The relation between glaucoma and different myopia and progression were assessed on the basis of age, gender, risk factors.
 Results: Out of the 120 cases assessed, 46 [38 percent] were female and 74 [62 percent] were males. On the basis of age there were 9 cases between 31-40 y, 30 cases between the ages 41-50, 40 cases between 51-60, 32 cases between 61-70 and 9 cases between 71-80, on the basis of myopia 59 [49 percent] were NMG 47 [39 percent] were MMG and 14 [12 percent] were HMG. On the basis of risk factors,12 of them had Diabetes Mellitus, 7 had Hypertension, 7 had a history of steroid use, 3 had a history of migraines and 6 of them had a family history of glaucoma. In the observed one year period 73 percent if the cases were not progressive while 27 percent were progressive. In this study, it has been observed that the males are more commonly affected and the age group with the most cases was the 51 to 60 age group. The majority of the cases showed no risk factors though Diabetes Mellitus is the most common. The progression of the disease is seen more frequently in cases associated with Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension. In MMG 12 out of the 47 cases were progressive and in NMG 15 out of the 59 cases were progressive.
 Conclusion: Though high myopia is important in the pathogenesis of glaucoma there was no evidence that high myopia increases the progression of the disease of the 14 cases, only 5 were progressive.

Determining Association of Myopia and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

“…The findings are in agreement with previous studies. [10][11][12] It has been suggested that myopia may increase the intraocular pressure (IOP), causing glaucomatous damage. The association between myopia and POAG was suggested decades ago by Loyo-Berrios et al 13 The previous study review showed that IOP is one of the major risk factors for POAG, among others.…”

“…A previous study by Kimura et al, 23 reported that highly myopic and non-highly myopic eyes show a difference in the progression of glaucoma changes. Reddy et al, 10 evaluated the effect of myopia on POAG by dividing the 120 patients into three categories; those with non-myopic glaucoma (NMG) and highly myopic glaucoma (HMG) and mild-moderate myopic glaucoma (HMG) respectively. They reported mixed results of no glaucoma progression in 14 myopes and progression of glaucoma in 5 myopes.…”