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Siddiqui What is risk of pigmentary glaucoma from pigment dispersion syndrome?
Abstract
Purpose: To determine the probability of converting from pigment dispersion syndrome, with or
without ocular hypertension, to pigmentary glaucoma.
Design: Retrospective community-based study of all newly diagnosed cases of pigment
dispersion syndrome and pigmentary glaucoma.
Methods: Patients newly diagnosed with pigment dispersion syndrome and pigmentary
glaucoma from 1976-1999 in Olmsted County, MN. Criteria for pigment dispersion syndrome
were 2 of 3 signs: mid-peripheral, radial iris transillumination defects, Krukenberg spindle,
heavy trabecular meshwork pigmentation. Criteria for pigmentary glaucoma were: pigment
dispersion syndrome and 2 of 3 findings: intraocular pressure >21 mm, optic nerve damage, or
visual field loss. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to determine the probability of
conversion to pigmentary glaucoma.
Results: 113 patients were newly diagnosed with pigment dispersion syndrome over the 24 year
period. Of these, 9 persons developed pigmentary glaucoma or elevated IOP requiring therapy.
The probability of converting to pigmentary glaucoma was 10% at 5 years and 15% at 15 years.
An additional 23 patients were found to have pigmentary glaucoma at their initial examination.
The mean age at diagnosis of pigmentary glaucoma was 42
± 12 years; 78% of patients were
male, while 58% of patients with pigmentary dispersion syndrome glaucoma were male. The
most significant risk factor for conversion to pigmentary glaucoma was an IOP >21 mm Hg at
initial examination, while age, refractive error and family history of glaucoma were not
correlated with conversion.
Conclusion: The risk of developing pigmentary glaucoma from pigment dispersion syndrome
was 10% at 5 years and 15% at 15 years. Young, myopic males were most likely to have
