Related Experiment Videos
Long-term prognosis of visual field in glaucoma simplex and glaucoma capsular
Acta Ophthalmologica
|August 1, 1985
Summary
Glaucoma patients often experience visual field loss, with 11% becoming blind despite controlled intraocular pressure (IOP). Progression typically occurs within the first 4-6 years of monitoring for capsular and simple glaucoma.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Clinical Research
- Glaucoma Studies
Background:
- Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, is characterized by progressive optic nerve damage and visual field loss.
- Understanding the long-term visual field progression in different glaucoma subtypes is crucial for effective management.
- Capsular glaucoma and simple glaucoma represent common forms with distinct pathological features.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze the long-term visual field fate in patients diagnosed with capsular glaucoma and simple glaucoma.
- To determine the rate and pattern of visual field deterioration over a 5 to 14-year follow-up period.
- To investigate the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) levels and visual field progression in these glaucoma types.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of visual field data from 42 eyes with capsular glaucoma and 46 eyes with simple glaucoma.
- Follow-up duration ranged from 5 to 14 years, with mean follow-up periods of 9.1 years (capsular) and 10.2 years (simple) glaucoma.
- Intraocular pressure (IOP) levels were monitored, averaging approximately 19.5 mmHg in the treated eyes.
Main Results:
- Visual field deterioration was observed in 70-80% of eyes across both capsular and simple glaucoma groups.
- Blindness occurred in 11% of the total patient cohort.
- Progression was most common within the initial 4-6 years, though some cases showed later onset (8-10 years). Disc cupping preceded visual field loss in 26 eyes.
- Retinal vein occlusion was noted in 5 eyes with capsular glaucoma versus 2 eyes with simple glaucoma.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of patients with capsular and simple glaucoma experience progressive visual field loss, even with IOP managed around 19.5 mmHg.
- The onset of visual field deterioration can be delayed, emphasizing the need for long-term monitoring.
- While disc cupping can precede visual field loss, further research is needed to elucidate the specific risk factors and management strategies for these glaucoma subtypes.