Relation between retinal hypoxia and alteration of the chromatic vision inanemias and glaucomas

Both glaucoma and anemia produce losses in chromatic discrimination. A disc rimination loss can frequently be seen prior to changes visible in fundosco py. The etiology is assumed to be an absence of proper oxygenation due to r aised interocular pressure that blocks the blood irrigation system, or to a deficiency in red blood cells, hemoglobin, or total blood volume. Results of this study show that: (a) if there is an appropriate early treatment, th e patients with glaucomas and anemias can improve their chromatic vision; ( b) the chromatic rests enable a follow-up of both pathologies; (c) early pr esentation of chromatic deficits could be due to cellular hypoxia; (d) iron -deficit anemias are similar in score values to the open-angle chronic glau comas with a mild and/or medium loss of visual field. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.