Assessing Serum Lipid Levels in Patients Diagnosed With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

The main purpose of this study is to assess serum lipid levels in patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The secondary objective is to explore the association between these lipid levels, namely serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and the development of POAG.

Glaucoma is a major contributor to global blindness, with elevated intraocular pressure as a key risk factor. However, in some cases, the disease advances even when pressure levels are well controlled, suggesting that additional independent risk factors may play a role in its development. Previous epidemiological studies have shown a potential link between serum lipids and glaucoma, but the findings are contradictory, leading to this investigation into the relationship between serum lipid levels and POAG.

The study involved 60 patients with POAG and a control group of 60 individuals without POAG. All individuals underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination, and fasting serum lipid levels were measured, including total serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, LDL, and HDL. The lipid levels of the glaucoma group were then compared to those of the control group.

The findings revealed that total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels were significantly higher in POAG patients compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Although HDL levels were lower in POAG patients, the difference was not statistically significant.

Dyslipidemia appears to be an independent risk factor for POAG, with higher serum lipid levels strongly linked to the presence of the condition.