Glaucoma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Glaucoma, including details on cataracts, surgery, treatment, blindness.

Risk factors for primary open angle glaucoma progression: what we know and what we need to know.

Rivera JL, Bell NP, Feldman RM

Robert Cizik Eye Clinic, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent literature is reviewed in order to identify possible risk factors leading to primary open angle glaucoma progression and blindness. RECENT FINDINGS: Several risk factors have been suggested to be important for progression of open angle glaucoma. Intraocular pressure appears to be an important risk factor for progression of glaucoma. It is still not clear if intraocular pressure fluctuation and central corneal thickness are related to progression. Myopia might be related to glaucoma progression as well as optic disc hemorrhages. Vascular factors appear to be related to progression also. Genetics seem to play an important role in open angle glaucoma. SUMMARY: Identifying risk factors associated with progression of patients with primary open angle glaucoma is essential to our clinical practices. The level of understanding regarding those risks is suboptimal at this point. Prospective long-term studies are needed if we wish to better understand the disease and help those patients at greater risk of progression and blindness.

Published 27 February 2008 in Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 19(2): 102-6.
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