Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To estimate the probability of progression to blindness of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and to determine the risk factors associated with this progression. Methods: This was a retrospective study of POAG patients examined for the first time at the University of Campinas from 1992 to 1994 who had a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Blindness was defined as best corrected visual acuity < 20/200. Kaplan Meyer survival curves were built to estimate the risk of progression to blindness. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed in order to determine the risk factors associated with progression to blindness in this population. Results: Among the 102 patients included in the study, 55 were not blind at the initial consultation. In this group, Kaplan Meyer survival curves estimated the risks of unilateral and bilateral blindess to be 30.0% and 21.1%, respectively, after 8 years. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that male sex (p=0,003), age > 60 years-old (p=0,03) and the presence of a severe visual field defect at the initial examination (p=0,03) were risk factors associated with the development of blindness in this population. Conclusion: Regardless of clinical or surgical treatment, a high percentage of POAG patients progressed to blindness in this population constituted by patients with advanced glaucoma. Older, male patients with a severe visual field defect were at greater risk for progressing to blindness.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: ris • visual fields • visual acuity