With more glaucoma meds, slower rate of visual field loss

THOROFARE, N.J. — Eyes with higher intraocular pressure levels have a faster rate of visual field loss, but eyes that receive more glaucoma medications tend to have a slower rate of visual field loss, said Young H. Kwon, MD, PhD. Dr. Kwon and colleagues have followed 40 white patients since 1972 to evaluate long-term visual field outcomes.

"I want to be able to tell the patients as they present to me that if we treat this glaucoma in a standard fashion what vision the patient can expect to have 10 to 15 years down the line," Dr. Kwon said.

All patients in the study had their initial onset of glaucoma after age 40, with the average age of onset around 64. During the study period, 13 eyes underwent 21 laser procedures and 14 eyes underwent 18 incisional procedures. All the patients in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics' study received treatment, and 68% of the eyes showed a significant rate of visual field decline. The mean visual field loss for all 40 patients was 1.5% per year. Eyes with higher intraocular pressure (IOP) levels tended to have higher rates of visual field loss decline.

The number of medications received at the initial presentation also affected the rate of visual field decline, said Dr. Kwon. Patients who were on more medications had slower rates of visual field loss, independent of the IOP analysis.

"The rate of visual field loss does not appear to be dependent upon the amount of visual field loss at initial presentation," Dr. Kwon said.

More information about Dr. Kwon's study will be published in the Feb. 1 issue of Ocular Surgery News U.S. Edition.