Intraocular pressure as a risk factor for visual field loss in pseudoexfoliative and in primary open-angle glaucoma

Objective: To analyze the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) a nd visual field loss in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) an d in those with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG). Design: A cross-sectional, observational study. Participants: Thirty-one patients with PEXG and 31 patients with POAG that was newly diagnosed were included in this study. Main Outcome Measures: The authors recorded the untreated IOP and the amoun t of the visual field loss, at presentation, in both study groups. Results: The authors found a significant relationship between IOP and visua l field mean deviation (MD) index (P = 0.0001, r = 0.68) in PEXG but not in POAG eyes (P = 0.7). Conclusion: The authors found that untreated IOP levels can explain the amo unt of visual field loss, as measured by the MD index, much better in patie nts with PEXG than in comparable patients with POAG. Thus, vulnerability of the optic nerve head to increased IOP appears to be different in these two diagnostic categories.