Intraocular Pressure Response to Perceived Stress in Juvenile-Onset Open Angle Glaucoma

High perceived stress from academic pressure is associated with intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and reduced fluctuation in juvenile-onset open angle glaucoma patients. Personalized stress assessment and relief strategies may serve as an adjunct therapy in glaucoma.

To evaluate the effect of higher perceived stress, resulting from academic pressure, on IOP in juvenile-onset open angle glaucoma (JOAG) patients compared with healthy individuals.

The study included 48 university students aged 18-27 years, comprising 24 JOAG patients on antiglaucoma eyedrops and 24 healthy controls. In an examiner-blind pretest-posttest design, participants' IOP was measured weekly using Goldmann tonometry during three follow-up visits at the beginning and end of the academic semester. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores were also evaluated at these 2-time points to capture the contrast in perceived stress between periods of low and high academic pressure.

The baseline PSS score at the semester's start was lower in both groups (14.1±1.9 in glaucoma vs. 13.5±2.4 in control) and significantly increased by the end of the semester (29.2±2.1 vs. 28.5±1.3; P <0.001), indicating increased perceived stress. Concurrently, IOP rose from 22.01±5.87 to 25.08±5.84 mm Hg in the glaucoma group and from 11.36±2.03 to 13.65±2.11 mm Hg in the control group. Factorial analysis revealed a significant interaction between stress and JOAG ( F(1,94) =15.94, P =0.001), partial η 2 =0.08, with stress having a greater increase on IOP in the glaucoma group (+3.10 mm Hg) compared with the control group (+2.23 mm Hg) ( t(94) =4.457, P <0.001).

Higher perceived stress significantly increases IOP, especially in JOAG patients, suggesting personalized stress management as a potential adjunct therapy for patients.