Risk factors for blindness in patients with open-angle glaucoma followed-up for at least 15 years

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the proportion of blindness and investigate the relationships between risk factors based on clinical characteristics and development of blindness in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) treated for at least 15 years.Methods: A retrospective observational chart review was performed with 403 patients referred to a tertiary level hospital, each with a diagnosis of primary openangle glaucoma, treated for atleast 15 years. Blindness attributable to glaucoma was definedbased on visual acuity and/or visual field tests. Variables considered to be possible risk factors for blindness were evaluated using odds ratio (OR), confidence interval (95% CI), and univariate and multivariate analyses.Results: Thirty-one patients became blind [13/53 (24.5%) - unilaterally and 18/53 (34%) - bilaterally] during the follow-up period of treatment (19.5 ± 4.6 years, range 15-31 years). Multivariate statistics with regression analysis revealed that persistency on initial therapy ≤6 months was significantly associated with blindness, both unilateral (OR: 8.4; 95% CI: 1.3-56.4) and bilateral (OR: 7.2; 95% CI: 1.3-39.6). Other potential factors such as race, age, gender or number of medications were not associated withblindness.Conclusion: Blindness from primary open-angle glaucoma was not uncommon in thispopulation of treated patients after the long follow-up period proposed. Persistence rateswith the first therapy, as measured by a medical decision to change, were low. Persistence ≤ 6 months was statistically associated with the development of unilateral and bilateral blindness from glaucoma.