The probability of blindness in patients treated for glaucoma

To investigate the risk factors and probability of blindness in patients treated for glaucoma.

The study design was a retrospective, hospital-based, clinical chart, review study. Medical records were reviewed from patients seen between January 2003 and December 2003 at the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital eye clinic, who had been diagnosed with glaucoma in 1986 or later and who had been treated for at least 2 years for glaucoma.

A total of 186 charts were reviewed, which included 66 patients who were blind in at least one eye from glaucoma on presentation. A total of 172 patients and 290 eyes were followed-up for a mean duration of 10.6 +/- 4.67 years. Twenty seven patients and 31 eyes developed blindness from glaucoma during follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier survival estimate at 16 years was 28.6% for glaucoma-related blindness in at least one eye. A worse visual field on presentation, older age, and poor compliance during therapy were significantly associated with the development of blindness. Glaucoma type, a gender difference, systemic disease, greater intraocular pressure fluctuation in the last year of therapy and blindness in one eye on presentation did not show a significant relationship with the rate of development of blindness.

Blindness from treated glaucoma is considerable. Our results gave a 28.6% probability of blindness at 16 years in at least one eye. An older age, poor compliance and a worse visual field on presentation were significant risk factors.