Rely on more than just IOP in glaucoma detection, surgeons advise

Elevated IOP should not be relied upon as the only indicator of open-angle glaucoma, Australian researchers said.

Elaine Y.H. Wong and colleagues in Melbourne, Australia, examined a cluster-stratified random sample of 4,744 people who had seen an eye health care provider within the previous 12 months. Demographics, prior knowledge of ocular disease, IOP, cup-to-disc ratios, visual fields and photography of optic discs were obtained. Suspected glaucoma cases were referred to a panel of specialists to determine diagnosis.

Among the sample of people, 35 previously undiagnosed with glaucoma and 43 previously diagnosed with glaucoma had visited an optometrist or ophthalmologist or both within the past year. Age and gender were not significantly different between the undiagnosed and diagnosed glaucoma cases.

The type of eye professional seen and the presence of visual field defects were the only statistically significant variables between the groups, according to the study authors.

The study is published in the August issue of Ophthalmology.