An association between hypothyroidism and primary open-angle glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that there is an association between hypothyroidism and primary open-angle glaucoma.


METHODS
The study was conducted in a case-control fashion. Sixty-four patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were evaluated for hypothyroidism by history and by undergoing a thyroid-stimulating hormone immunoradiometric assay. Sixty-four control subjects from the general eye clinic were evaluated in the same manner. Patients found to have elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone immunoradiometric assay were evaluated by an endocrinologist for hypothyroidism.


RESULTS
Of the primary open-angle glaucoma group, 23.4% had hypothyroidism. A diagnosis was made previously in 12.5% patients, and 10.9% were newly diagnosed. Of the control subjects, 4.7% had hypothyroidism. A diagnosis had been made previously in 1.6% of the control subjects, and 3.1% were newly diagnosed. The difference between the two groups was found to be statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
A statistically significant association between hypothyroidism and primary open-angle glaucoma is demonstrated. There is a large group (10.9%) of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma with undiagnosed hypothyroidism.
Smith
K D
KD
Department of Ophthalmology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Arthurs
B P
BP
Saheb
N
N
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D008297:Male; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests