To Evaluate Effects of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension on Visual Functions

Abstract Background And Aims: To evaluate effect of Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG)and Ocular hypertension (OHT) on visual functions. Material And Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study on 116 eyes of 58 patients (20 normal patients, 28 POAG patients and 10 OHT patients) attending the out-patient’s department of a tertiary eye care hospital was carried out. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including visual acuity measurement, visual field examination, contrast sensitivity measurement, colour vision testing and stereopsis. Results: 58 patients with a mean age of 44.2 (± 9.17) years were enrolled in the study. Mean visual acuity was 0.0181 log unit (± 0.027); contrast sensitivity 1.79 log unit (± 1.14) and stereopsis 117 secs of an arc (± 59.92) in the normal group with normal colour vision and visual fields. The same was 0.09 log unit (± 0.07), 1.36 log units (± 0.16) and 270 seconds of an arc (± 106.45) respectively, colour vision defective in 60.71% and visual field defects in 87.50% amongst the POAG group. Mean visual acuity was 0.0291 log unit (± 0.03), contrast sensitivity 1.537 log unit (± 0.06), steropsis 204 seconds of an arc (± 57.96), defective colour vision in 25% cases and no patient with visual field defects amongst the patients having OHT. Conclusion: Visual functions are affected in patients with POAG and OHT. Key Words: Primary open angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension, visual functions.