Objective: To test if there is an association between hypothyroidism and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and the utility of routine study of thyroid function in these patients.
Methods: The study was conducted in a case-control fashion. Seventy-five consecutive patients with a previous diagnosis of POAG and 75 control patients were prospectively evaluated for hypothyroidism. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxin were measured.
Results: Hypothyroidism was revealed in only 2 patients with previous diagnosis of POAG (2.67%) and 3 patients of the control group (4%).
Conclusions: As we have not been able to demonstrate the previously reported relationship between hypothyroidism and POAG, we cannot recommend the systematic screening for hypothyroidism in patients with POAG.
Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel