A 10-year follow up of ocular hypertensive patients within the Bolton Corneal Thickness Study. Can measured factors predict prognostic outcomes?

Objective: This is a case note review of a cohort of patients examining the effects of central corneal thickness (CCT), presenting intraocular pressure (IOP), age and gender on the risk of progression of ocular hypertension (OHT) to primary glaucoma (POAG) over a 10-year period.

Design: Cohort study with retrospective case note review.

Participants And Methods: 58 case notes from a cohort at the Bolton Royal Infirmary initially assessed 10 years ago were reviewed again. Presenting CCT, IOP, age and gender were recorded. Development of POAG was assessed by visual field and/or optic disc changes being present.

Main Outcome Measures: The effects of CCT, IOP, age and gender on the risk of progression of OHT to POAG were analysed in a multivariate logistic regression model following a preliminary univariate analysis.

Results: 50 out of 116 eyes developed primary open angle glaucoma over the 10-year period. Thinner CCT (odds ratio 0.985 associated with each 1mum increase in CCT), higher presenting IOP (odds ratio 1.131 associated with each 1mmHg increase in IOP) and increasing age (odds ratio 1.062 associated with each 1 year increase in age) were found to be associated with progression to POAG.

Conclusion: Patients with a CCT of 579microm or more, a presenting intraocular pressure of 26mmHg or less and age 75 years or less had a lower risk of developing POAG within this cohort of patients.