Blindness and Glaucoma: A Multicenter Data Review from 7 Academic Eye Clinics

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate frequency, conversion rate, and risk factors for blindness in glaucoma patients treated in European Universities.MethodsThis multicenter retrospective study included 2402 consecutive patients with glaucoma in at least one eye. Medical charts were inspected and patients were divided into those blind and the remainder (‘controls’). Blindness was defined as visual acuity≤0.05 and/or visual field loss to less than 10°.ResultsUnilateral and bilateral blindness were respectively 11.0% and 1.6% at the beginning, and 15.5% and 3.6% at the end of the observation period (7.5±5.5 years, range:1–25 years); conversion to blindness (at least unilateral) was 1.1%/year. 134 eyes (97 patients) developed blindness by POAG during the study. At the first access to study centre, they had mean deviation (MD) of -17.1±8.3 dB and treated intraocular pressure (IOP) of 17.1±6.6 mmHg. During follow-up the IOP decreased by 14% in these eyes but MD deteriorated by 1.1±3.5 dB/year, which was 5-fold higher than controls (0.2±1.6 dB/year). In a multivariate model, the best predictors for blindness by glaucoma were initial MD (p<0.001), initial IOP (p<0.001), older age at the beginning of follow-up (p<0.001), whereas final IOP was found to be protective (p<0.05).ConclusionsIn this series of patients, blindness occurred in about 20%. Blindness by glaucoma had 2 characteristics: late diagnosis and/or late referral, and progression of the disease despite in most cases IOP was within the range of normality and target IOP was achieved; it could be predicted by high initial MD, high initial IOP, and old age.

Evidence of BrdU-positive retinal neurons after application of an Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist

“…It is responsible for a reduced quality of life and a substantial burden on national healthcare systems (Saaddine et al, 2003). Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease of the retina that can lead to irreversible blindness due to loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) (Rossetti et al, 2015; Foster et al, 1992; Guo et al, 2005). Although the cause of glaucoma is unknown, the primary risk factor associated with the disease is an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP) (Chauhan et al, 2002; Levkovitch-Verbin et al, 2002; Damji et al, 2003).…”

Relationship Between Central Retinal Vessel Trunk Location and Visual Field Loss in Glaucoma

“…1,2 Structure-function modeling provides a construct to understand the onset and progression of glaucoma and has therefore been extensively investigated in previous research. 3–7 For example, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness has been shown to be related to vision loss in glaucoma, 8 and disc tilt has been associated with the location of initial glaucomatous damage.…”

Prevalence and Risk Factors in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in a Hospital-Based Study Done in a Tertiary Care Hospital

“…The potential risk factors are male sex and systemic hypertension. 1 The aim of the present study was to detect the prevalence of POAG in patients attending the ophthalmic out-patient department of Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore, who are over 40 years. The objective of the study was to establish the epidemiology of primary open angle glaucoma.…”

“…1 About 70% of global glaucoma is seen in developing countries including India. 2 Prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) varies greatly between racial and ethnic groups.…”