Nutrition of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma

Introduction
Glaucoma is a serious eye disease. Elevated intraocular pressure is the most important factor of occurrence of the disease. It is suggested of diet may be a risk factor for the development of glaucoma. The aim of the study is to assess the nutrition of patients with glaucoma and the relationship between the degree of obesity, and primary open angle glaucoma.

Material and methods
625 adults aged 46 years or older were enrolled in the study. The study group comprised 312 subjects diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), including 238 women (W) – 76%, equal to 476 eyes, and 74 men (M) – 24%, which is 148 eyes. Control group consisted of 313 subjects with no glaucoma diagnosis – including 202 women (W – 64%, 404 eyes) and 111 men (M – 36%, 222 eyes). General data, including anthropometric indices and body mass index (BMI) [kg/m2], was collected during the interview with the patient, including the original questionnaire. The daily nutrition of the study subjects was analysed based on the Questionnaire obtained from the Computer Program – Diet 2.0.

Results
The analysis of the obtained data showed changes regarding obesity and diet-related factors between POAG and control group regardless of gender (p < 0.000). The distribution of the number of meals consumed per day was statistically significantly different between the POAG and control group (p = 0.001).

Conclusions
POAG correlated with inadequate nutrition model of the study participants. Apparently, further research is needed to determine the role of the diet and nutritional supplementation in glaucoma treatment.