Relative risk factors in chronic open-angle glaucoma: an epidemiological study.

Some hypothesized risk factors in chronic open-angle glaucoma were investigated in a sample of 87 patinets with glaucoma and 87 matched controls. A significant positive association was found with diabetes, a systolic blood pressure/intraocular pressure (BP/IOP) ratio less than 5.75, and the taking of medication for systemic hypertension. No significant association was found with a history of smoking or an elevated systemic blood pressure. Analysis indicates that the systolic BP/IOP index may be useful as a screening test for the detection of glaucoma in samples where the prevalence of glaucoma is high.