Target Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma Management

HC Agarwal, V Gulati, R Sihota
Dr Rajendra Prasad
Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India

Purpose: To determine the range of intraocular pressure consistent with halting the development and progression of visual field defects in patients with ocular hypertension or primary open angle glaucoma receiving antiglaucoma treatment.

Patients and Methods: In a prospective study, 102 eyes of 51 patients with primary open angle glaucoma receiving medical therapy were followed up during a 9-month period. Efficacy of medical therapy was monitored with monthly intraocular pressure measurements (applanation tonometry) and stereoscopic optic disc evaluation and 3-monthly visual field examinations using the Humphrey visual field analyser.

Results: The mean intraocular pressure was found to be significantly lower in eyes with non-progressive visual fields compared with eyes with progressive visual field loss in all grades of severity of glaucoma.

Conclusions: The intraocular pressure needs to be maintained at a lower level (11 to 20.5 mm Hg) in eyes with advanced visual field defects than in eyes with early visual field defects (13 to 22.5 mm Hg).

Key words: Medical management, Primary open angle glaucoma, Target intraocular pressure

Asian J Ophthalmol 2001;3(3,4):15-18.