Myopia development in juvenile open angle glaucoma could indicate glaucoma progression

Patients with juvenile open angle glaucoma (JOAG) who experience glaucoma progression had a greater baseline myopic refraction and a faster myopia development over time, according to a study.

In this retrospective study, 37 patients (74 eyes) with JOAG were followed for ≥5 years for glaucomatous progression. Glaucoma progression was observed in 8 patients (11 eyes, 14.9%). The median time to progression was 7.4 years.

The prevalence of myopia in patients with JOAG was 70.3%, in progressors was 87.5%, and in non-progressors was 65.5%.

“The development of myopia in JOAG eyes could be an indicator of glaucoma progression, and hence progressing myopic (≤−1 D) JOAG patients should be followed up more rigorously,” concluded the authors.

Reference
Gupta, Singh, Mahalingam, et aMyopia and glaucoma progression among patients with juvenile onset open angle glaucoma: A retrospective follow up study. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2021; https://doi.org/10.1111/opo.12805.