Précis: Multiple systemic vascular-associated conditions including systemic hypertension and hypotension, diabetes mellitus, migraine headache, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud syndrome, and anemia were associated with low-tension glaucoma.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify systemic risk factors associated with low-tension glaucoma.Patients and Methods: A retrospective case-control study design was employed to identify patients seen at the Mayo Clinic Department of Ophthalmology between 2005 and 2015 with low-tension glaucoma and an age-matched and sex-matched control group, each containing 277 patients. Results:The low-tension glaucoma group had more myopic refractive errors (−1.6 vs. −1.0 D, P < 0.001), lower intraocular pressure (14.2 vs. 15.2 mm Hg, P < 0.001), and a higher cup-to-disc ratio (0.7 vs. 0.3, P < 0.001). The low-tension glaucoma group was significantly less likely to be obese (body mass index > 30, P = 0.03). This group had a significantly higher prevalence of systemic hypertension [odds ratio (OR): 1.64, P = 0.004], diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.01, P < 0.001), peripheral vascular disease (OR: 2.61, P = 0.009), migraine headache (OR: 2.12, P = 0.02), anemia (OR: 2.18, P = 0.003), systemic hypotension (OR: 4.43, P < 0.001), Raynaud syndrome (OR: 3.09, P = 0.05), and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (OR: 1.64, P = 0.01) or calcium channel blocker use (OR: 1.98, P = 0.004). After adjusting for systemic hypertension, calcium channel blocker use remained significant (OR: 1.70, P = 0.03). No significant difference was found between groups with respect to hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, carotid stenosis, stroke, or statin, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker, or metformin use.Conclusions: Multiple vascular-associated conditions were associated with low-tension glaucoma including systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, migraine headache, Raynaud syndrome, anemia, systemic hypotension, and calcium channel blocker use. This study strengthens the evidence for the vascular hypothesis of low-tension glaucoma.

PurposeTo determine whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk factor for various forms of optic neuropathy including non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION).MethodsThis population-based analysis identified patients ≥40 years of age in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA using the Rochester Epidemiology Project 2005–2018. Patients with MetS were identified if three or more of the five standard criteria for diagnosing MetS were present: systemic hypertension, hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (hypoalphalipoproteinaemia) and central adiposity defined by increased body mass index. Charts of patients identified as having an optic neuropathy were reviewed to record specific diagnoses and compared with patients without ocular pathology other than cataract. The odds ratio (OR) of association with MetS was calculated and adjusted for age, sex and race with multivariate analysis for the various optic neuropathies.ResultsPatients with MetS were more likely to have an optic neuropathy than those without (OR 2.2, p<0.001). After adjusting for age, sex and race, the only optic neuropathy found to be significantly associated with MetS was NAION (OR 6.17, p=0.002). For patients with NAION, though each individual component of MetS was individually significantly associated with MetS, further analysis suggested that hypertriglyceridaemia, hypoalphalipoproteinaemia and hyperglycaemia were likely the key drivers in the overall significance between NAION and MetS.ConclusionPatients with MetS were more likely to have NAION. Further studies are needed to determine whether MetS is a modifiable risk factor for NAION.

Background:The identification of glaucomatous optic neuropathy in the setting of optic disc drusen (ODD) is a challenge, and the decision of whether to offer treatment in the form of intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction is controversial. Here, we present a series of patients with coexisting ocular hypertension and ODD to evaluate clinical features, treatment options, and progression of optic neuropathy. In addition, a review of the literature on ODD with elevated IOP is provided.Methods:Six patients with ODD and a history of ocular hypertension are presented. Components of the examination and imaging modalities used to establish the diagnosis of ODD were recorded and a description of ocular hypertension history, glaucoma testing, and the potential treatment of IOP were also provided.Results:In this series, 4 of 6 patients with concurrent ocular hypertension and ODD showed progression of optic neuropathy as assessed by visual field or retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Of the 2 patients who did not show evidence of progression, 1 was treated with IOP-lowering medications and 1 was observed off treatment. Of the 4 patients who showed evidence of progression, all 4 were initially treated with IOP-lowering medications and 2 ultimately went on to have trabeculectomy surgery. In the patients with progressive optic neuropathy, lowering the IOP seemed to halt the progression suggesting there was a pressure‐sensitive component.Conclusions:Distinguishing changes to the optic nerve, particularly the structural changes at the lamina cribrosa of true glaucomatous optic neuropathy in the setting of ODD, is a challenge. Careful consideration of risk factors including age, presenting features, progression indicators, and management goals is to be accounted for in the decision to offer treatment. We see the presence ODD in the patients with ocular hypertension as an additional risk for progressive changes to the nerve fiber layer and visual field that needs to be considered when determining whether to initiate therapy. Our data suggest that treatment of IOP in the patients with ocular hypertension with ODD and evidence of progression reduces the risk of further progression. Further work is needed to determine whether progression of optic neuropathy in the setting of coexisting ODD and ocular hypertension is related mechanistically to predominantly an ODD-type process, a glaucomatous process, or a combination thereof.