Analysis of Systemic Risk Factorsin Normal Tension Glaucoma

ABSTRACT

It has been suggested that normal tension glaucoma could be the result of pressure independent factors. One of the current theories is that normal tension glaucoma is the result of decreased optic nerve perfusion on the basis of vascular disease or other systemic factors such as altered blood viscosity or coagulation state. This study compared the vascular viscosity profiles, coagulation tests, and biochemical tests of 30 consecutive cases of normal tension glaucoma with 30 control cases to evaluate association of particular systemic state with normal tension glaucoma in Korean population. The data of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly higher in the normal tension glaucoma group than in the control group. But there were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the many other factors examined. These results support the vascular ischmic theory due to hyperlipidemia in the pathogenesis of the normal tension glaucoma. Inadequate circulation of optic nerve due to atherosclerotic change might play an important role in the pathogenesis of normal tension glaucoma.