Characteristics of undiagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma: the Tajimi Study

To evaluate the characteristics of patients with previously undiagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in the Tajimi Study.

Background and ophthalmic examination data from 111 patients previously undiagnosed with POAG from the Tajimi Study, a population-based survey of glaucoma, were analyzed and compared with those of eight patients with previously diagnosed glaucoma.

The mean deviation (MD) and vertical cup-to-disc ratio (vC/D) of the worse eye of each patient averaged -5.5 decibels (dB) and 0.72 and -10.4 dB and 0.83, respectively, in undiagnosed and diagnosed POAG. In undiagnosed POAG, arcuate and partial arcuate patterns accounted for 50% of the pattern of the visual field (VF) damage, and 95% of patients presented with intraocular pressure of 21 mmHg or less (normal tension glaucoma). The undiagnosed group had better MD and smaller vC/D values in the worse eye and less involvement of bilateral VFs than the diagnosed group (p = 0.004-0.050 with Bonferroni correction), while other factors, including mean sensitivity of the binocular VF, showed no intergroup difference.

The characteristics of Japanese patients with previously undiagnosed POAG indicated that bilateral evaluation of the optic disc and VF are important for identifying individuals with glaucoma.