Prognostic value of HLA-A 3, BW 35, B 7, and B 12 in ocular hypertension.

The prevalences of HLA-A 3, BW 35, B 7 and B 12 in 80 Caucasian patients with ocular hypertension were intermediate between values found in ocular normotensives and in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. The presence of HLA-B 7 or B 12 had significant predictive value for the development of glaucomatous damage to the optic nerve in patients with ocular hypertension. The HLA-A 3 antigen by itself, or in combination with B 7 and B 12 did not improve the prognostic value of the B 7 and B 12 antigens. Only one of the 20 white ocular hypertensives in this series with HLA BW 35 antigen developed glaucomatous visual field loss.