IOP’s influence in NTG not clear, literature review finds

The role of intraocular pressure lowering on progression of visual field loss in patients with normal tension glaucoma has not been adequately evaluated, according to a recent review of the ophthalmic literature.

T. Sycha and colleagues conducted the review to assess the effects of medical and surgical interventions on normal tension glaucoma (NTG). Eight studies were identified that matched the authors’ selection criteria, and only three of those focused on patient-relevant outcomes.

According to the reviewers, one study showed that reducing IOP showed a significant benefit only when data were corrected for cataract development. Another study showed that the calcium antagonist brovincamine had a promising effect. Larger trials are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn, the reviewers concluded.

The authors noted that studies focusing on IOP reductions and hemodynamic variables are not necessarily relevant to the visual field outcome in NTG patients.

The literature review is published in The Cochrane Library.