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Cancer and glaucoma: A systematic review.
Tammy Si Yue Yim1, Titus Hutch Jr Yi Zheng Yim2, Kevin Kun Peng Wang3
1Department of General Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
European Journal of Ophthalmology
|June 2, 2026
Summary
This review highlights the link between cancer and glaucoma, finding increased glaucoma risk in cancer patients. Glaucoma may signal complications in intraocular cancers, necessitating monitoring and management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Oncology
- Systematic Review
Background:
- Glaucoma and cancer are prevalent, debilitating diseases with significant morbidity.
- Existing literature lacks a systematic review of the complex interactions between cancer and glaucoma.
- Understanding these relationships is crucial for patient care and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the association between intraocular/non-ocular cancers and glaucoma prevalence/etiology.
- To explore glaucoma's role as a risk factor for intraocular cancer complications.
- To examine glaucoma management in cancer patients, especially secondary to cancer therapies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across three databases up to July 2025.
- Search terms included variants of 'cancer' and 'glaucoma'.
- Narrative synthesis of findings from included studies.
Main Results:
- 18 studies reported increased glaucoma prevalence in cancer patients (intraocular and non-ocular).
- 15 studies indicated higher risk of invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis in intraocular cancers co-occurring with glaucoma.
- Cancer therapies like corticosteroids can elevate intraocular pressure (IOP), while androgen deprivation therapy may lower glaucoma risk.
Conclusions:
- The established link between glaucoma and cancer warrants consideration of glaucoma monitoring and management strategies post-cancer diagnosis or therapy.
- Glaucoma may serve as an early indicator of complications in intraocular cancers.
- Further research into managing cancer-related glaucoma is essential.
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