ANALYSIS OF EFFECT OF BLOOD PRESSURE ON INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE IN PRIMARY OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA PATIENTS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract: Introduction: Glaucoma is commonly defined as optic neuropathy characterized by progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) which is associated with characteristic structural damage to the optic nerve and visual field loss. Aims and objectives: The main objective of the study is to analyze the effect of blood pressure on intraocular pressure in primary open angle glaucoma patients. Material and methods: This cross section study was conducted in District Head Quarter Hospital, Gujranwala, Pakistan during January 2019 to July 2019. The age group for this study were 40 to 80 years. For every eligible patient, clinical evaluation was conducted were recorded in a database. Information collected includes the subject’s age, sex, refraction, IOP, and central corneal thickness. Results: There were total of 220 cases which were included in this study. There were 106 male and 114 female patients which were included in this study. In this study, there were 81 (36%) participants with HTN, 21 (9.5%) with DM, and 15 (6.8%) with HTN. We analyzed these groups differently as a single and combined risk factor for severity, comparing it with the patients with POAG without either of the conditions. Conclusion: It is concluded that patients with HTN had a more severe form of POAG when compared with the participants without these risk factors. Patients with these risk factors could represent “high-risk patients” and should be identified and be explained about the conditio