26 Years of the Erlangen Glaucoma Registry: Demographic and Perimetric Characteristics of Patients Through the Ages

Background The history of the Erlangen Glaucoma Registry goes back 26 years. In this study, we present retrospective demographic and perimetric data on the initial visit of patients with ocular hypertension (OHT), pre-perimetric (prePOAG) and perimetric primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and secondary open-angle glaucoma (SOAG) and correlate these results with the latest perimetric data. Material and Methods 1406 (754 patients) of the Erlangen Glaucoma Registry (EGR; NTC00494923) were investigated retrospectively between 1991 and 2016 covering: demographic data (age, visual acuity, intraocular pressure [IOP]), diagnosis and perimetric characteristics (mean defect [MD], loss variance [LV]) at the initial visit and the latest perimetric data. Results (1) 558 eyes of OHT, 347 prePOWG, 236 POAG, 161 NTG and 104 SOWG were recruited in the Erlangen Glaucoma Registry between 1991 and 2007. (2) The initial age was significantly lower for OHT (43.79 +/- 13.64) than for perimetric open-angle glaucoma (NTG: 54.46 +/- 11.41, p < 0.001; POAG: 54.00 +/- 11.27, p < 0.001; SOAG: 47.92 +/- 12.37, p = 0.008). Patients with prePOAG (48.62 +/- 11.98) were significantly younger than patients with POAG/SOAG (p < 0.001). (3) The best corrected visual acuity was better for OHT (1.04 +/- 0.14, p < 0.001) and prePOAG (1.05 +/- 0.15, p < 0.001) than for POAG (0.95 +/- 0.16), SOAG (0.93 +/- 0.23) and NTG (0.93 +/- 0.18). (4) Initial IOP was significantly higher for OHT (19.08 +/- 2.25 mmHg), prePOAG (19.18 +/- 3.90 mmHg), POAG (18.29 +/- 4.11 mmHg) and SOAG (18.57 +/- 5.34 mmHg) than for NTG (15.23 +/- 2.83 mmHg, p < 0.001). (5) Since 1991, increasing numbers of patients with POAG and SOAG were seen at the initial visit. (6) Trend for MD and LV between 1991 and 2016: a trend for increasing MD at the initial visit was detected for prePOAG and POAG, yet OHT, NTG and SOAG showed a decreasing trend for MD at the initial visit. All patient groups showed perimetric progression. Conclusion Since its start in 1991, the patients of the Erlangen Glaucoma Registry exhibited perimetric progression up to the year 2016, although antiglaucomatous therapy was re-evaluated and optimised if target IOP was not achieved.