Lina Matukynaitė¹, Ignė Urbonavičiūtė¹

 ¹ Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy

Abstract

Glaucoma is optic neuropathy caused by progressive retinal ganglion cell death, leading to narrow field of vision and second cause of blindness in the world. Increased intraocular pressure plays significant role in process of glaucoma‘s development. Despite the fact, increased systemic arterial blood pressure (BP) has also negative impact to optic nerve function. Arterial hypertension (AH) is a risk factor of glaucoma, though too high BP reduction could be harmful due to decreased ocular perfusion pressure and lead to optic nerve ganglion cell death. AH treatment significantly reduces development of glaucoma. According to practical recommendations, optimal BP should be maintained to prevent glaucoma‘s progression due to BP variability, especially, night dipping is a risk factor. 24 hours BP monitoring and assessment of BP variability is a key to detect patients with increased risk of glaucoma‘s progression.

Keywords: glaucoma, hypertension, hypotension.