A few remarks about glaucoma
- Glaucoma Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich Technical University, 22 Ismaninger Strasse, 81679 Munich, Germany; A.Wegner@lrz.tum.de
New incidence and prevalence studies required
Weber designed the first applanation tonometer in 1867, Goldmann constructed the modern applanation tonometer in 1954, but only 27 years ago Ehlers et al1 presented their study that showed the correlation between central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) applanation tonometric measurement. The number of publications about central corneal thickness measurements has risen exponentially over the past few years,2 but do we use this information? The implementation of this inverse correlation between CCT and IOP on the glaucoma/ocular hypertension (OHT) patients has a great impact on our knowledge, understanding, classification, and treatment of glaucoma. This means that many OHT patients should be reclassified as normal; from 30% as Argus3 found or even up to 65% according to Herndon et al.4 Of the normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients a similar proportion can be reclassified; 31% according to Copt et al.5 But this is only the beginning. All the data concerning prevalence of OHT, NTG, and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) must be revised …
