Risk Factors for the Structural Progression of Myopic Glaucomatous Eyes with a History of Laser Refractive Surgery

Abstract

As laser refractive surgeries (LRS) have been widely performed to correct myopia, ophthalmologists easily encounter patients with glaucoma who have a history of LRS. It is well known that intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes with glaucoma is not accurate when measured using Goldmann applanation tonometry. However, risk factors for glaucoma progression, particularly those associated with measured IOP, have rarely been studied. We analysed data for 40 patients with a history of LRS and 50 age-matched patients without a history of LRS. Structural progression was defined as significant changes in thickness in the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer as identified using optical coherence tomography event-based guided progression analysis. Risk factors were determined via Cox regression analysis. Disc haemorrhage (DH) was associated with glaucoma progression in both the non-LRS group and LRS group (hazard ratio (HR): 4.650, p = 0.012 and HR: 8.666, p = 0.019, respectively). However, IOP fluctuation was associated with glaucoma progression only in the LRS group (HR: 1.452, p = 0.023). Our results show that DH was a significant sign of progression in myopic glaucoma eyes. When treating patients with myopia and glaucoma, IOP fluctuation should be monitored more carefully, even if IOP seems to be well controlled.