Comparison of Clinical Features in Three Types of Primary Glaucoma

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical characteristics of primary open-angle glaucoma (HTG), normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) patients. METHODS: We investigated the clinical characteristics of HTG (n=75), NTG (n=58), and ACG (n=150) patients from March 2000 to November 2002. We compared the age at initial glaucoma diagnosis, sex, family history, systemic diseases, refractive errors, and corneal curvature among the three groups. RESULTS: HTG was younger than the others at initial glaucoma diagnosis. In ACG, the incidence rate was higher in women, but it was in HTG, higher in men. Family history of glaucoma was significantly more prevalent in HTG than in the others. NTG showed higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and hypotension than the others. In refractive errors, there was statistically significant difference among the three groups and HTG had more severe myopia than the others. ACG had the steepest cornea curvature. CONCLUSIONS: Three types of primary glaucoma (HTG, NTG and ACG) differed somewhat in clinical feature. This finding will be helpful in the early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.