In the
Nationwide Glaucoma Survey conducted in 1988-89 in Japan, it was found that
normal pressure glaucoma (NPG) was the most prevalent glaucoma subtype,
consisting of 2.04% of the population aged 40 or older; whereas the prevalence
of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) was 0.58%. The prevalence is quite
different from that reported in Caucasians. Why so different? Simply, a matter
of IOP definition? We do not believe so.
In one of our studies, we have reported that the presence of disc hemorrhage is
one of the major risk factors for visual field progression in NPG. We suspect
that vascular compromise has a role to play in the pathogenesis of NPG in the
Asian population, though we cannot describe the exact mechanism from a
standpoint of molecular biology.
In the symposium we will
discuss why NPG is so prevalent in the Asian countries and the impact of the
chronic disorder on our public health.