Total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein levels as risk factors for increased intraocular pressure.

PURPOSE

To determine whether high-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels were risk factors for increased intraocular pressure in patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

METHODS

We measured total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio in 25 patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who had taken no glaucoma medications for four weeks. We individually matched these patients to 25 control subjects who had no history of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, on the basis of age, race, gender, and history of vascular disease or diabetes mellitus.

RESULTS

We found no statistical difference in the high-density lipoprotein (P = .702) or total cholesterol (P = .177) levels or total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio between groups (P = .178, paired t test).

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that increased high-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels are not risk factors for increased intraocular pressure.