Risk Factors for Fast Visual Field Progression in Glaucoma.

PURPOSE

To identify baseline and longitudinal risk factors for fast visual field (VF) decay in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Patients with open-angle glaucoma with ≥6 VFs and ≥4 years of follow-up were included. VF decay rates were measured with the following methods: mean deviation (MD) rate, VF index (VFI) rate, and the Glaucoma Rate Index (GRI). The relationship between VF rates and clinical variables were investigated with linear mixed models. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which factors were associated with fast progression.

RESULTS

A total of 1317 eyes of 745 patients with a mean (± SD) age of 63.3 (±10.9) years and a median (interquartile range) MD -2.4 (-0.7 to -5.6) dB at baseline were analyzed. The median (interquartile range) number of VFs was 12 (9 to 16), and mean follow-up duration was 11.5 (±3.7) years. Older age (P < .001), higher peak intraocular pressure (IOP) (P < .001), and glaucoma surgery during the study period (P < .001) were associated with faster rates of progression regardless of the method used. Worse baseline MD was associated with MD rate (P = .02), but neither with VFI rate (P = .37) nor GRI (P = .31); whereas pseudoexfoliative glaucoma was associated with faster rates of progression with MD (P = .008) and VFI (P = .01) rates, but not with GRI. Higher peak IOPs (P = .005) was a significant predictor for fast progression.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort, older age, peak IOP, pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, and baseline MD were associated with the rate of glaucomatous VF worsening. Fast progressors had a higher peak IOP than non-fast progressors. The identification and appropriately aggressive treatment of fast progressors would reduce visual disability from glaucoma.