[Risk factors for visual field loss progression in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma in Wenzhou area]

Risk factors for visual field progression in newly diagnosed exfoliation glaucoma patients in Sweden

The present study aimed to identify risk factors for visual field progression in newly diagnosed exfoliation glaucoma patients. Prospective nonrandomized cohort study. The study included patients with newly diagnosed exfoliation glaucoma. All patients were followed for at least 3 years with reliable visual fields. Both risk factors at inclusion and during the 3-year follow-up were considered. For inclusion, five reliable visual fields were needed. Exfoliation glaucoma was defined based on the European Glaucoma Society guidelines. Visual field evaluation was performed using the 24–2 strategy of Humphrey field analysis. Outcomes: Visual field progression. Three different approaches were used: mean deviation, visual field index, and guided progression analysis. Independent variables were tested first in a univariate linear or regression model. The significant variables were retested in a multivariate linear or logistic regression model. The results were different for the MD, VFI and GPA models. The only variable that showed a significant association in the three models was age (p = 0.004; p = 0.006; p = 0.04). Significant variables in the two models were IOP at diagnosis (p = 0.02; p = 0.04), IOP reduction in absolute terms (p = 0.006; p = 0.003), IOP reduction in relative terms (%) (p = 0.04; p = 0.009) and number of medicines (p = 0.02; p = 0.002). Significant variables in one model were family history (p = 0.04), smoking (p = 0.03), cataract surgery (p = 0.04) and SLT treatment (p ≤ 0.001). Exfoliation glaucoma is a fast progressive glaucoma. Age at diagnosis must be considered. Significant IOP reduction must be achieved to slow down progress in exfoliation glaucoma. The use of SLT treatment should be advised in exfoliation glaucoma patients.

Comparison of visual field progression in new-diagnosed primary open-angle and exfoliation glaucoma patients in Sweden

Background

The present study aimed to compare visual field progression in new-diagnosed exfoliation versus open-angle glaucoma patients.

Methods

Retrospective study. The study included patients with new-diagnosed primary open-angle and exfoliation glaucoma. All patients were followed for 3 years with reliable visual fields. At least five reliable fields were needed for inclusion. Exfoliation and open-angle glaucoma were defined based on the European Glaucoma Society guidelines. Visual field evaluation was performed using the software threshold 24–2 of the Humphrey Field Analysis. Outcomes: Visual field progression. For visual field progression, three different strategies were used: mean deviation (MD), visual field index (VFI), and the guided progression analysis (GPA).

Results

The study included 128 subjects, of the 54 in the open-angle and 74 in the exfoliation glaucoma group. The MD difference values were higher in the exfoliation (− 3.17 dB) than in the primary open-angle (− 1.25 dB) glaucoma group in the three-year follow-up period. The difference between groups was significant (t-test, p = < 0.001). The difference in VFI was calculated for the 3 years follow-up period. The difference was higher in the exfoliation (− 7.65%) than in the primary open (− 1.90%) glaucoma group (t-test, p = < 0.001). The GPA showed progression in 58% of cases in exfoliation, and 13% in primary open glaucoma group (Chi-square, p = < 0.001).

Conclusion

The present study found a more frequent and faster visual field progression in exfoliation than in primary open-angle glaucoma patients. New-diagnosed exfoliation glaucoma patients must be controlled and treated more strictly than primary open-angle glaucoma patients to avoid visual field deterioration.