title: Risk factors for progression of normal-tension glaucoma under β-blocker monotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively study prognostic factors for normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) under treatment with topical β-blocker.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-six eyes of 146 patients with NTG with a mean untreated intraocular pressure (IOP) of 14 mmHg, mild to moderate visual field damage and mean spherical equivalent refraction of -3.5 (-8.0 to +2.0) dioptre were randomized to topical nipradilol or timolol and followed for 3 years. The Humphrey full threshold 30-2 visual field test was performed every 6 months, and optic disc photographs were obtained every 12 months. Progression was defined as visual field progression, optic disc and/or peripapillary nerve fibre layer change, and factors relating to progression were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IOP decreased by 1.0 mmHg over the 3-year period, during which 35% showed progression according to the aforementioned criteria. Optic disc haemorrhage (hazard ratio [HR] 4.00, p < 0.001) and less extent of myopia (per dioptre, HR 1.15, p = 0.013) were significant risk factors. When progression was defined by visual field progression only, less extent of myopia was again a significant risk factor (HR 1.17, p = 0.038).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beside optic disc haemorrhage, less extent of myopia was a risk factor for progression in the current NTG population where most patients were mildly myopic and IOP during follow-up averaged 13.2 mmHg under topical β-blocker.
authors.affiliation: Kanto Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan Yotsuya-Shirato Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan. araie-tky@umin.net
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Araie
authors.forename: Shiroaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shirato
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Chota
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitazawa
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohashi
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D057066:Low Tension Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011379:Prognosis; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013999:Timolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011412:Propanolamines; D013999:Timolol; C036089:nipradilol