Long-term prognosis of visual field in glaucoma simplex and glaucoma capsular.

The fate of visual fields in 42 eyes with capsular glaucoma followed for 5 to 14 years (mean 9.1 years) and 46 eyes with simple glaucoma followed for 5 to 14 years (mean 10.2 years) was studied retrospectively. In the treatment the IOP levels were around 19.5 mmHg. In both groups the visual field deteriorated in 70-80% of eyes, and 11% of patients became blind. In most cases the progression appeared during the first 4-6 years of follow-up, but in individual cases it did not occur until 8-10 years after the diagnosis. In 26 eyes disc cupping preceded the visual field loss. Five out of 42 eyes with capsular glaucoma developed retinal vein occlusion whereas this occurred in 2 out of 46 eyes with simple glaucoma. Two patients with IOP level of 9 mmHg maintained unchanged visual fields for 6 and 11 years, respectively.