Ten-year outcomes in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients: mortality and visual function

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Clinical Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Chronic open-angle glaucoma (COAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
• Long-term outcomes regarding mortality and visual field progression in COAG patients are crucial for clinical management.
• Understanding survival rates and visual field changes informs patient counseling and treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the 10-year mortality rate in patients diagnosed with COAG.
• To assess the progression of visual fields among survivors of COAG over a 10-year period.
• To evaluate the long-term visual outcome and factors influencing it in COAG patients.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 65 patients diagnosed with COAG between 1994 and 1995 was followed for 10 years.
• Mortality data were collected from general practitioner records and death certificates.
• Visual field status was graded using a nine-stage severity scale, and intraocular pressure was monitored.

Main Results:

• Seventeen patients (29.8%) died within the 10-year follow-up period, with cardiovascular disease being a common cause.
• The mean age of deceased patients was significantly higher than that of survivors (76.4 vs. 69.5 years).
• Over 10 years, 52.5% of eyes showed no visual field deterioration, while 37.5% worsened by one stage; the average time to one-stage deterioration was 8.51 years.

Conclusions:

• Approximately two-thirds of COAG patients remain under care 10 years post-diagnosis.
• Preventing visual handicap is achievable for most older, white COAG patients within 10 years of diagnosis.
• Effective management of intraocular pressure appears to contribute to favorable long-term visual outcomes.