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Lifetime risk of blindness in open-angle glaucoma
Dorothea Peters1, Boel Bengtsson, Anders Heijl
1Department of Ophthalmology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|August 13, 2013
Summary
Approximately 1 in 6 patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) experienced bilateral blindness. The median duration of this severe vision loss was 2 years, highlighting the long-term impact of glaucoma.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
- Understanding the lifetime risk and duration of blindness in OAG patients is crucial for patient counseling and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the lifetime risk and duration of blindness in patients diagnosed with manifest open-angle glaucoma (OAG).
Main Methods:
- A retrospective chart review was conducted on glaucoma patients who died between January 2006 and June 2010.
- Data on visual field status, visual acuity, and blindness (WHO criteria) due to glaucoma were extracted.
- Age at diagnosis, death, and onset of low vision or blindness were recorded.
Main Results:
- Out of 592 patients, 16.4% were bilaterally blind from glaucoma at their last visit.
- The median duration of bilateral blindness was 2 years (range <1-13 years).
- Cumulative incidences of blindness in at least one eye and bilateral blindness were 38.1% and 13.5% at 20 years, respectively.
Conclusions:
- About 1 in 6 OAG patients experienced bilateral blindness.
- The median duration of bilateral blindness was 2 years, indicating a significant period of visual impairment.
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