Atrial Fibrillation & Glaucoma
John R Martinelli MD OD FAAO
Teaching The Fine Art of Patient Management
What do you tell your patients?...
A recent case control study looking at rates of glaucomatous visual field progression before and after the onset of atrial fibrillation found important outcomes for us to consider.
Longitudinal results and meta-analyses found a significant change in visual fields following a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. The increased progression rates post-onset are most likely linked to micro-thrombi leading to compromised ocular perfusion and ischemia. Additional risk factors include older age, hypertension, and diabetes.
These findings have important clinical implications for us, suggesting early detection and management of atrial fibrillation may help preserve visual function with our glaucoma patients. Perhaps more frequent visual field testing and OCT imaging is now justified, including our glaucoma suspects. We are also reminded of the importance to provide a multidisciplinary approach when managing individuals with or at risk of atrial fibrillation.
-JRM
Go to the article in the Journal of Glaucoma HERE.
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