Rates of visual field progression in clinical glaucoma care

PURPOSE To investigate rates of visual field progression and factors associated with progression rate in open-angle glaucoma in clinical glaucoma care. METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with manifest primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG) followed ≥ 5 years with ≥5 SITA Standard fields. Exclusion criteria were minimal. Demographics, intraocular pressure values (IOP), treatment and treatment changes, and visual field (VF) data were recorded. VF progression rates were calculated as slopes of mean deviation (MD) over time. RESULTS Five hundred and eighty-three patients were eligible. Three hundred and sixty-seven (62%) had POAG and 221 (38%) PEXG. Median MD at study start was -10.0 dB. Mean follow-up time was 7.8 years (SD ± 1.2); mean number of VF tests was 8.9 (SD ± 2.8). Progression rates varied very much among patients with a mean of -0.80 dB/year (SD ± 0.82; median rate, -0.62), and 5.6% of patients progressed at rates worse than -2.5 dB per year A negative slope of MD values was observed in 89% of patients. Mean IOP of all visits decreased over the study period from 20.15 to 18.10 mmHg. Higher age and mean IOP, and more intensive treatment were associated with more rapid progression, while PEXG and IOP variation were not, if treatment intensity was taken into account. CONCLUSION Rates of visual field progression in manifest glaucoma with field loss in ordinary clinical care were highly variable. Progression rates rapid enough to influence quality of life were common.