Correlation of open-angle glaucoma and ocular perfusion pressure in hypertensive individuals

Abstract

Background: Systemic hypertension has been recognized as a potential risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Purpose: The purpose of this study is to study the correlation of systemic blood pressure, intraocular pressure (IOP), and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) for the development of glaucoma in hypertensive individuals. Methods: After Institutional Ethics Committee approval, a hospital-based case–control study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. The study group comprised of patients with systemic hypertension, and the control group had the age- and sex-matched normotensives. POAG was diagnosed if glaucomatous cupping and characteristics visual field defects were present with open angles on gonioscopy. OPP was compared between POAG and non-POAG groups. Results: In this study of 103 hypertensive and 100 normotensive patients, the mean IOP was higher among hypertensives. There were 9 (8.74%) cases of POAG in hypertensive group and 2 (2%) in the normotensive group. The mean IOP in hypertensive group was 16.5 ± 4.5 mmHg, and that of normotensive group was 13.14 ± 3.19 mmHg. The mean OPP in hypertensive patients with glaucoma was 49.38 ± 2.6 mmHg, which was significantly lower than that of patients without glaucoma, i.e., 60.16 ± 5.42 mmHg, as indicated by P < ,0.001. Conclusion: This study reveals that hypertensive patients taking anti-HT treatment with POAG have lower mean OPP as compared to those without POAG. The higher OPP could be protective against glaucomatous condition; however, interdisciplinary management of open-angle glaucoma and hypertension is the need for a better quality of life of such patients.

Keywords

• intraocular pressure
• ocular perfusion pressure
• primary open-angle glaucoma
• systemic hypertension