Long-Term Visual Outcomes of Primary Congenital Glaucoma in China

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term visual outcomes and factors associated with vision loss in Chinese patients with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) after successful intraocular pressure (IOP) control (IOP ≤21 mm Hg).

PCG patients with IOP control who were examined in the glaucoma clinic at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from 2019 to 2020 were enrolled. The final visual outcome was evaluated by the best corrected visual acuity (VA). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the associations of visual impairment with potential risk factors. The causes for decreased VA (<20/50) were also analyzed.

Fifty-nine patients (95 eyes) were included in the cohort, with a mean age of 8.7 years. The mean logMAR VA was 0.62 ± 0.64. The VAs of eyes treated for PCG were good (≥20/50) in 56%, fair (20/60-20/200) in 30%, and poor (<20/200) in 14%. The most common cause of decreased VA was amblyopia (64.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that undergoing multiple surgeries (OR: 4.86, 95% CI: 1.11-21.16, p = 0.035) was significantly associated with visual impairment.

The results showed that good VA was attainable in approximately half of PCG eyes under IOP control. Prompt and effective treatment of PCG, management of amblyopia and ocular comorbidities may be potential steps toward achieving good visual outcomes in PCG patients.