IOP Reduction Enhances VF Sensitivity
Although previous studies have suggested that improved retinal ganglion cell function may occur after intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction, functional visual improvement has not definitively been associated with reduced IOP.
A recent collaborative study by scientist at Devers Eye Institute and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Short-Tem Enhancement of Visual Field Sensitivity in Glaucomatous Eyes Following Surgical Intraocular Pressure Reduction, investigated this relationship and found
“…a significant enhancement in visual field sensitivity following moderate reduction in postoperative IOP…”
The study results indicate that there is a
“…potential role for using localized changes in visual sensitivity as a potential biomarker for RGC [retinal ganglion cell] function and response to therapeutic interventions in glaucoma.”
Their findings warrant further investigation to better understand the relationship between IOP and visual field enhancement.
Wright TM, Goharian I, Gardiner SK, Sehi M, Greenfield DS. Short-Term Enhancement of Visual Field Sensitivity in Glaucomatous Eyes Following Surgical Intraocular Pressure Reduction. Am J Ophthalmol. 2015 Feb;159(2):378-85.
