[Risk factors for primary open-angle glaucoma]

Abstract

Aims: To review the literature for risk factors involved in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Materials and methods: Articles and reviews studying the epidemiology and assessment of risk factors in POAG were collected from PubMed.

Results: The literature findings were divided into three categories: (1) What are the risks of developing POAG in healthy subjects? Significant factors include advancing age, family history of glaucoma, African origin, and elevated intraocular pressure; (2) What are the risks of developing POAG in ocular hypertensive patients? Significant factors include age, family history of glaucoma, reduced central corneal thickness, pronounced elevated IOP, and IOP fluctuations; and (3) What are the risks for progression in known cases of POAG? Significant factors include advancing age, elevated IOP fluctuations, IOP, elevated cup-over-disk ratio, disc asymmetry, and disk hemorrhages.

Discussion: A working knowledge of the risk factors for developing POAG and disease progression is essential to good clinical practice. Therefore, one could ideally concentrate resources on populations at risk for developing the disease as well as more actively treat those patients at risk for progression.