Blood levels of thiamine and ascorbic acid in chronic open-angle glaucoma.

Blood levels of thiamine and ascorbic acid in chronic open-angle glaucoma are determined in this study. Dietary vitamin intake was compared with thiamine and ascorbic acid blood levels in a sample of 38 patients with glaucoma and 12 controls. These patients had a statistically significant lower thiamine blood level than controls (P less than 0.001), but no significant difference was found for ascorbic acid blood levels. Poor absorption of thiamine occurred in the glaucomatous patients in this study.