Family history of glaucoma and disease severity

Abstract EN

Objectives: To determine if a positive family history of glaucoma, overtime, translates to a more severe form of the disease.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of 359 consecutive patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma was performed.

Family history of glaucoma, age, gender, race, cup/disk (C/D) ratio, visual field (VF) defects, intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), and current glaucoma medications were recorded.

Characteristics of patients with positive family history (Group A) and negative family history(Group B) were compared using Fisher’s Exact and Wilcoxon Rank sum tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively.

Results: There were 144 (40.1%) patients in Group A and 215 (59.9%) patients in Group B.

Racially, both groups were similar, p= 0.44.

Patients in Group A were younger at diagnosis, (61.9 ± 13.5 years vs 65.2 ± 12.5; p=0.02), had greater percentage of females (50.7% vs 37.7%; p= 0.02), had thicker CCT, μm, (546 ± 58.1 vs 532.7 ± 40.2; p=0.02), higher IOP (16.6 ± 3.9 vs 1.6 ± 3.9; p= 0.02), advanced (C/D ≥ 0.9) cupping (32.2% vs 22.4%; p=0.05) and higher prevalence of moderate to severe VF defects (66.2% vs 54.8%, p= 0.04), compared with normal to mild VF defects.

Conclusion: Our study has suggested that a positive family history of glaucoma may be associated with higher IOP, as well as greater prevalence of advanced cupping and moderate to severe VF defects.

Vigilance and aggressive treatment are warranted for these patients.