PURPOSE: To evaluate a young population of patients affected by normal
tension glaucoma.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: 46 patients (31 M, 15 F), aged 18-40 years (mean:
27.22 S.D. 8.49) were evaluated as for visual acuity, IOP, provocative test
(ibopamine 2% eye drops), HRT examination, PERG, gonioscopy, fundus oculi
stereophotographes, visual field analyzer (AP340 by Kowa Co. Ltd, Glaucoma
programme). Hyperopic mean refraction defect was +0.78 D (S.D. 0.52), myopic
mean refraction defect was -3.41 D (S.D. 2.9). All patients underwent a topical
medical therapy. Statistics were performed by paired data t-test and
descriptive statistics.
RESULTS: All patients were well controlled from a tonometric point of
view. Their mean follow-up was 12.1 months (S.D. 7.8). Vertical cup disk was
0.65 (S.D. 0.19), ranging 0.30-0.80. Horizontal cup disk was 0.42 (S.D. 0.13)
ranging 0.30-0,60. HRT examination was normal as follow-up. Visual field
examinations were stable during follow-up (p=0.355). There was familiarity as
for glaucoma in 8 out of 46 patients.
CONCLUSIONS: It is basilar to evaluate such patients as for co-regulation.
All of them underwent topical therapy and, in no cases up to now, they needed
laser surgery or glaucoma surgery. As for familiarity, it is possible to
perform molecular genetics tests. In this young population it is possible to
hypothesize a late-onset POAG. A locus responsible for this disease is 10p14-p15.