Risk Factors in Ocular Hypertension

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine whether certain factors are related to an increased risk of developing open-angle glaucoma. A total of 345 untreated glaucoma suspects with intraocular pressure (IOP) > or = 21 mmHg, cup to disc ratio 0.4 or less and no visual field defects, were followed up for 6 to 8 years (mean 7.3). During the follow-up 71 patients developed established glaucoma and were compared to the remaining 274 patients. The following factors were analysed: age, family history of glaucoma, IOP, Humphrey 30-2 visual fields, optic disc appearance, myopia, exfoliation, arterial hypertension and diabetes. Analysis yielded statistically significant results regarding a number of these factors in the patients who subsequently developed open-angle glaucoma. A significant association with the subsequent development of field loss in ocular hypertension (OHT) included: heredity (p < 0.001), age > or = 60 years (p = 0.013), axial myopia (0.001 < p < 0.01) and arterial hypertension (p = 0.05). About 20% of patients with ocular hypertension developed glaucoma over a period of seven years. Risk factors such as heredity, age, myopia and arterial hypertension, among others, must be considered in the follow-up of glaucoma suspects.

Intraocular pressure and progression in exfoliative eyes with ocular hypertension or glaucoma

“…In clinical practice it is generally agreed that eyes with far advanced glaucoma are more susceptible to further VF damage than eyes with early glaucoma and therefore need lower target pressures (Wilson et al 1982;Anderson 1989;Shirakashi et al 1993;Stewart et al 1993). The risk of progression increased also with increasing age, a finding supported by previous studies (Kass et al 1980;Armaly et al 1980;Quigley et al 1994;Georgopoulos et al 1997). This study supports lower target pressures in advanced glaucoma and older patients.…”

Evolving global risk assessment of ocular hypertension to glaucoma

“…Older age has also been found to be an independent risk factor for the progression of OHT. This has been reported in multiple studies [2,4,14,25]. Interestingly, in the OHTS [1,2] African American race was associated with an increased risk of progression from OHT to glaucoma in the univariate but not in the multivariate analysis.…”

Validated Prediction Model for the Development of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Individuals with Ocular Hypertension

“…Some previous studies have identified cardiac disease, stroke, poor perfusion pressure, hypertension or hypotension as predictive factors for the development of POAG. 26,29,32,44,45 As in diabetes, our ascertainment of these factors was based on patient history without confirmation by chart review or direct testing. A history of heart disease was a statistically significant predictive factor in the pooled univariate analysis but not the multivariate analysis.…”