Vascular risk factors for primary open angle glaucoma The Egna-Neumarkt Study

Abstract

To assess the impact of vascular risk factors on the prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma. Population-based cross-sectional study. Four thousand two hundred ninety-seven patients more than 40 years of age underwent a complete ocular examination in the context of the Egna-Neumarkt Glaucoma Study. Ocular examinations were performed by trained, quality-controlled ophthalmologists according to a predefined standardized protocol including medical interview, blood pressure reading, applanation tonometry, computerized perimetry, and optic nerve head examination. Prevalences of ocular hypertension, primary open-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, and other types of glaucoma were determined. Correlation coefficients were calculated for the association between systemic blood pressure and age-adjusted intraocular pressure (IOP) and between age and both intraocular and systemic blood pressures. Odds ratios were computed to assess the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma in relation to systemic hypertension or antihypertensive medication, blood pressure levels, diastolic perfusion pressure, and a number of other cardiovascular risk factors. A positive correlation was found between systemic blood pressure and IOP, and an association was found between diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma and systemic hypertension. Lower diastolic perfusion pressure is associated with a marked, progressive increase in the frequency of hypertensive glaucoma. No relationship was found between systemic diseases of vascular origin and glaucoma. Our data are in line with those reported in other recent epidemiologic studies and show that reduced diastolic perfusion pressure is an important risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma.