Differential characteristics in high myopia with and without glaucoma

To identify the differences in ocular and epidemiological parameters between highly myopic subjects with and without glaucoma.

A total of 386 patients diagnosed with high myopia were recruited in hospital consultations from October 2022 through October 2023. High myopia was defined as an axial length ≥26 mm and/or a refractive error ≥-6 diopters of sphere. We perform a complete ophthalmological examination, incorporating optical biometry to measure axial length and an objective refraction to quantify refractive error.

386 high myopic patients without (Group I: n = 138) and with glaucoma (Group II: n = 248) who attended for consultation were included in the study. The distribution by sex was similar in both groups. The mean age was slightly higher in the glaucoma group than in the subjects without glaucoma, without finding statistically significant differences (63.8 vs 62.4 years; p = 0.349). Patients with glaucoma had a higher mean refractive error: -15.52 diopters vs -12.75 diopters finding statistical significance (p = 0.002). The mean axial length was significantly greater in patients with glaucoma: 30.21 vs 28.93 mm (p < 0.001).

Our results firstly suggest that increased axial length and greater refractive error are directly related to the prevalence of glaucoma in patients with high myopia. The non-association between a higher prevalence of glaucoma and older age in these patients is of special interest. These findings underscore the importance of increasing awareness of the increased prevalence of glaucoma in people with high myopia.