Ocular hypertension. A 15-year follow-up.

A group of 55 subjects with ocular hypertension were followed-up after 15 years. They were detected at a glaucoma screening on the island of Falster between 2031 volunteer blood donors, and they had an applanation pressure of greater than or equal to 20 mmHg in one or both eyes. All the subjects were traced. Nine have died, all from general causes, and one of the deceased subjects was treated for simple glaucoma. Of the remaining 46 living subjects, 3 developed glaucomatous visual field defects despite treatment. In another 4 subjects anti-glaucoma treatment was felt to be indicated. Of the non-treated 39 living subjects, 20 had a decreased applanation pressure, well below 20 mmHg, and 19 had an unaltered applanation pressure. We found that neither the common blood groups nor a water provocative test performed in 1962 were of any help in predicting glaucomatous visual field defects. Central corneal thickness measurements performed in 1977 could not allocate the subjects to the groups simple glaucoma, applanation pressure greater than 20 mmHg or less than or equal to 20 mmHg.