Effect of myopia on the progression of normal tension glaucoma

PurposeIdentify risk factors of progression in treated normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) in highly myopic and non-highly myopic eyes. MethodsThis retrospective, observational case series study included 42 highly myopic glaucoma (HMG, <-6D) eyes and 39 non-highly myopic glaucoma (NHG,& GE;-6D) eyes. Glaucoma progression was determined by serial visual field data. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression method were used to detect associations between potential risk factors and glaucoma progression. ResultsAmong 81 eyes from 81 normal-tension glaucoma patients (mean follow-up, 3.10 years), 20 of 42 eye (45.24%) in the HMG and 14 of 39 eyes (35.90%) in the NHG showed progression. The HMG group had larger optic disc tilt ratio (p = 0.007) and thinner inferior macular thickness (P = 0.03) than the NHG group. Changes in the linear regression values for MD for each group were as follows: -0.652 dB/year for the HMG and -0.717 dB/year for the NHG (P = 0.298). Basal pattern standard deviation (PSD) (OR: 1.55, p = 0.016) and post treatment IOP (OR = 1.54, p = 0.043) were risk factors for visual field progression in normal tension glaucoma patients. In subgroup analysis of HMG patients, PSD (OR: 2.77, p = 0.017) was a risk factor for visual field progression. ConclusionReduction IOP was postulated to be contributing in the prevention of visual field progression, especially in highly myopic NTG patients with large basal pattern standard deviation.

Automated summary

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for progression in treated normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) in highly myopic and non-highly myopic eyes. The results showed that the highly myopic group had a larger optic disc tilt ratio and thinner inferior macular thickness compared to the non-highly myopic group. Furthermore, basal pattern standard deviation and post treatment IOP were identified as risk factors for visual field progression in normal tension glaucoma patients.