This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

The Baltimore Eye Survey

Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS; James M. Tielsch, PhD; Joanne Katz, MS; Harry A. Quigley, MD; John D. Gottsch, MD; Jonathan Javitt, MD; Kuldev Singh, MD; Baltimore Eye Survey Research Group

Arch Ophthalmol. 1991;109(8):1090-1095.

Abstract
• A detailed ocular examination, including perimetry, was conducted on 5308 black and white subjects aged 40 years and older in a population-based prevalence survey in east Baltimore, Md. Repeated, detailed examinations were carried out on selected subjects. Roughly half of all subjects with optic nerve damage from primary open angle glaucoma, regardless of race, were unaware that they had the condition. The average intraocular pressure (IOP) among black patients with glaucoma who were receiving treatment was virtually identical to that in those black patients who were not receiving treatment (median IOP, 20 mm Hg); treated eyes of white patients had a lower IOP than those eyes of white patients who were not receiving treatment (mean[±SD] IOP, 18.69 ±3.23 mm Hg vs 24.15±5.23 mm Hg; P<.001). The risk of glaucomatous optic nerve damage increased with the height of the screening IOP, particularly at levels of 22 to 29 and 30 mm Hg and above (relative rate compared with IOP of 15 mm Hg or lower, 12.8 and 40.1 mm Hg, respectively). More than half of all glaucomatous eyes had a screening IOP below 21 mm Hg, whether these eyes were receiving treatment or not. The IOP in glaucomatous eyes tended to rise on follow-up, in contrast with nonglaucomatous eyes in which the IOP was as likely to rise as to fall. Results confirmed that IOP is an important factor in glaucoma, but did not support the traditional distinction between "normal" and "elevated" pressure, nor its corollaries, "low-tension" glaucoma and "high-tension" glaucoma.

Author Affiliations
From the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Institute and School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 9, 1991.

Reprint requests to Room 1041, The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205 (Dr Sommer).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Glaucoma and Helicobacter pylori infection: correlations and controversies
Izzotti et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:1420-1427.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Blood pressure and glaucoma
Costa et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:1276-1282.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Interpretation of the glaucoma "landmark studies"
Wishart
Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:561-562.
FULL TEXT  

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Kwon et al.
NEJM 2009;360:1113-1124.
FULL TEXT  

Comparison of Risk Factors for Bilateral and Unilateral Eye Involvement in Normal-Tension Glaucoma
Kim and Kim
IOVS 2009;50:1215-1220.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Sleep Disorders and the Eye
Waller et al.
Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83:1251-1261.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Ocular and systemic factors related to intraocular pressure in Japanese adults: the Tajimi study
Kawase et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:1175-1179.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Time-Dependent Effects of Elevated Intraocular Pressure on Optic Nerve Head Axonal Transport and Cytoskeleton Proteins
Balaratnasingam et al.
IOVS 2008;49:986-999.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Axonal Transport and Cytoskeletal Changes in the Laminar Regions after Elevated Intraocular Pressure
Balaratnasingam et al.
IOVS 2007;48:3632-3644.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Genetic Contributions to Glaucoma: Heritability of Intraocular Pressure, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness, and Optic Disc Morphology
van Koolwijk et al.
IOVS 2007;48:3669-3676.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Presence of an Established Calcification Marker in Trabecular Meshwork Tissue of Glaucoma Donors
Xue et al.
IOVS 2007;48:3184-3194.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The 100 Most Frequently Cited Articles in Ophthalmology Journals
Ohba et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:952-960.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Lack of Association between Interleukin-1 Gene Cluster Polymorphisms and Glaucoma in Chinese Subjects
How et al.
IOVS 2007;48:2123-2126.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Altered Nitric Oxide System in Patients With Open-Angle Glaucoma
Polak et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:494-498.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Dietary Omega 3 Fatty Acids Decrease Intraocular Pressure with Age by Increasing Aqueous Outflow
Nguyen et al.
IOVS 2007;48:756-762.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Genes Involved in the Pathogenesis of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: In Search of the Holy Grail
Pasquale
JAMA 2007;297:306-307.
FULL TEXT  

Aggregated Myocilin Induces Russell Bodies and Causes Apoptosis: Implications for the Pathogenesis of Myocilin-Caused Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Yam et al.
Am. J. Pathol. 2007;170:100-109.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The role of scanning laser polarimetry using the GDx variable corneal compensator in the management of glaucoma suspects
Shaikh and Salmon
Br J Ophthalmol 2006;90:1454-1457.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Mutant Myocilin Nonsecretion In Vivo Is Not Sufficient To Cause Glaucoma
Gould et al.
Mol. Cell. Biol. 2006;26:8427-8436.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Rate of Functional Recovery from Acute IOP Elevation
He et al.
IOVS 2006;47:4872-4880.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A topical nitric oxide-releasing dexamethasone derivative: effects on intraocular pressure and ocular haemodynamics in a rabbit glaucoma model
Galassi et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2006;90:1414-1419.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Chase the Family
Quigley
Arch Ophthalmol 2006;124:1036-1037.
FULL TEXT  

Ahmed Glaucoma Valve implantation in African American and white patients.
Ishida and Netland
Arch Ophthalmol 2006;124:800-806.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Human glaucoma and neural degeneration in intracranial optic nerve, lateral geniculate nucleus, and visual cortex
Gupta et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2006;90:674-678.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Matrix GLA Protein Function in Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells: Inhibition of BMP2-Induced Calcification Process.
Xue et al.
IOVS 2006;47:997-1007.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Deep sclerectomy and low dose mitomycin C: a randomised prospective trial in west Africa.
Mielke et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2006;90:310-313.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Differences in Visual Function and Optic Nerve Structure Between Healthy Eyes of Blacks and Whites
Racette et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:1547-1553.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Baseline Topographic Optic Disc Measurements Are Associated With the Development of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: The Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Ancillary Study to the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study
Zangwill et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:1188-1197.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Calcineurin cleavage is triggered by elevated intraocular pressure, and calcineurin inhibition blocks retinal ganglion cell death in experimental glaucoma
Huang et al.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2005;102:12242-12247.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Glaucoma: Macrocosm to Microcosm The Friedenwald Lecture
Quigley
IOVS 2005;46:2663-2670.
FULL TEXT  

Clinical Features and Course of Patients with Glaucoma with the E50K Mutation in the Optineurin Gene
Aung et al.
IOVS 2005;46:2816-2822.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Intraocular pressure in the Middle East
Hennis
Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:647-648.
FULL TEXT  

Distribution of intraocular pressure in healthy Iranian individuals: the Tehran Eye Study
Hashemi et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:652-657.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Retinal Vessel Diameters and Incident Open-Angle Glaucoma and Optic Disc Changes: The Rotterdam Study
Ikram et al.
IOVS 2005;46:1182-1187.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Genetically Increasing Myoc Expression Supports a Necessary Pathologic Role of Abnormal Proteins in Glaucoma
Gould et al.
Mol. Cell. Biol. 2004;24:9019-9025.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Central Corneal Thickness as a Risk Factor for Advanced Glaucoma Damage
Herndon et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2004;122:17-21.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Racial Differences in Optic Disc Topography: Baseline Results From the Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Ancillary Study to the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study
Zangwill et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2004;122:22-28.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Detection of Early Visual Field Loss in Glaucoma Using Frequency-Doubling Perimetry and Short-Wavelength Automated Perimetry
Landers et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121:1705-1710.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Gene Therapy with Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor As a Protection: Retinal Ganglion Cells in a Rat Glaucoma Model
Martin et al.
IOVS 2003;44:4357-4365.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Determinants of Intraocular Pressure and Its Association with Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy in Chinese Singaporeans: The Tanjong Pagar Study
Foster et al.
IOVS 2003;44:3885-3891.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Lack of Association of Mutations in Optineurin With Disease in Patients With Adult-onset Primary Open-angle Glaucoma
Wiggs et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121:1181-1183.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence of optineurin sequence variants in adult primary open angle glaucoma: implications for diagnostic testing
Aung et al.
J. Med. Genet. 2003;40:e101-101.
FULL TEXT  

Factors Related to the 4-Year Risk of High Intraocular Pressure: The Barbados Eye Studies
Nemesure et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121:856-862.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The phenotype of normal tension glaucoma patients with and without OPA1 polymorphisms
Aung et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2003;87:149-152.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Family Score as an Indicator of Genetic Risk of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Hulsman et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120:1726-1731.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reduction of Intraocular Pressure and Glaucoma Progression: Results From the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial
Heijl et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120:1268-1279.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

One-Year, Randomized Study Comparing Bimatoprost and Timolol in Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension
Higginbotham et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120:1286-1293.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Distributions of p53 codon 72 polymorphism in primary open angle glaucoma
Lin et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2002;86:767-770.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Answers From the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study
Palmberg
Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120:829-830.
FULL TEXT  

Glucocorticoid Induction of the Glaucoma Gene MYOC in Human and Monkey Trabecular Meshwork Cells and Tissues
Clark et al.
IOVS 2001;42:1769-1780.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Central corneal thickness measurements in patients with normal tension glaucoma, primary open angle glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, or ocular hypertension
Ventura et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2001;85:792-795.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Association of Demographic, Familial, Medical, and Ocular Factors With Intraocular Pressure
Weih et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:875-880.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Should antiproliferatives be used in filtering surgery of normal tension glaucoma?
ALM
Br J Ophthalmol 2001;85:638-639.
FULL TEXT  

Deprivation and late presentation of glaucoma: case-control study
Fraser et al.
BMJ 2001;322:639-643.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Induction of HLA-DR Expression in Human Lamina Cribrosa Astrocytes by Cytokines and Simulated Ischemia
Yang et al.
IOVS 2001;42:365-371.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Central Corneal Thickness of Caucasians and African Americans in Glaucomatous and Nonglaucomatous Populations
La Rosa et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:23-27.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Incidence of Open-Angle Glaucoma: The Barbados Eye Studies
Leske et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:89-95.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Central corneal thickness determined with optical coherence tomography in various types of glaucoma
Bechmann et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2000;84:1233-1237.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Appraising evaluations of screening/diagnostic tests: the importance of the study populations
HARPER et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2000;84:1198-1202.
FULL TEXT  

Prevalence of Glaucoma in a Rural East African Population
Buhrmann et al.
IOVS 2000;41:40-48.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Screening for Glaucoma With Frequency-Doubling Technology and Damato Campimetry
Yamada et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:1479-1484.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Is Neuroprotection a Viable Therapy for Glaucoma?
Weinreb and Levin
Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:1540-1544.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Glaucoma Care in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1965-1980: Filtering Surgery and Vision Outcomes
Gaasterland
Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:1236-1237.
FULL TEXT  

The Bristol Shared Care Glaucoma Study: reliability of community optometric and hospital eye service test measures
Spry et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:707-712.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Corneal Thickness in Ocular Hypertension, Primary Open-angle Glaucoma, and Normal Tension Glaucoma
Copt et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:14-16.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Mid-peripheral pattern electrical retinal responses in normals, glaucoma suspects, and glaucoma patients
Shorstein et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:15-23.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Glaucoma and vasospasm
Broadway and Drance
Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:862-870.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Elevation of Intraocular Glutamate Levels in Rats With Partial Lesion of the Optic Nerve
Yoles and Schwartz
Arch Ophthalmol 1998;116:906-910.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pulsatile ocular blood flow investigation in asymmetric normal tension glaucoma and normal subjects
Fontana et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:731-736.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence and management of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with Graves' orbitopathy
Kalmann and Mourits
Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:754-757.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Parapapillary Chorioretinal Atrophy in Patients With Ocular Hypertension: I. An Evaluation as a Predictive Factor for the Development of Glaucomatous Damage
Tezel et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1997;115:1503-1508.
ABSTRACT  

Aging changes of the optic nerve head in relation to open angle glaucoma
Garway-Heath et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:840-845.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Incidence of self reported glaucoma in people with diabetes mellitus
Klein et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:743-747.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Distribution of Intraocular Pressure: The Barbados Eye Study
Leske et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1997;115:1051-1057.
ABSTRACT  

Outcome measures for glaucoma treatment
HITCHINGS
Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:427-428.
FULL TEXT  

Inhaled and Nasal Glucocorticoids and the Risks of Ocular Hypertension or Open-angle Glaucoma
Garbe et al.
JAMA 1997;277:722-727.
ABSTRACT  

Mildly raised intraocular pressure is a risk factor, not glaucoma itself
Morsman
BMJ 1995;311:813b-813.
FULL TEXT  

Neural Rim Area Declines With Increased Intraocular Pressure in Urban Americans
Varma et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1995;113:1001-1005.
ABSTRACT  

Risk Factors for Open-angle Glaucoma: The Barbados Eye Study
Leske et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1995;113:918-924.
ABSTRACT  

How can we improve the detection of glaucoma?
Crick and Tuck
BMJ 1995;310:546-547.
FULL TEXT  

The Barbados Eye Study: Prevalence of Open Angle Glaucoma
Leske et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1994;112:821-829.
ABSTRACT  

Risk Factors for the Development of Glaucomatous Visual Field Loss in Ocular Hypertension
Quigley et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1994;112:644-649.
ABSTRACT  

The Nerve of Glaucoma!
Schumer and Podos
Arch Ophthalmol 1994;112:37-44.
ABSTRACT  

Randomized Clinical Trials on Medical Treatment of Glaucoma: Are They Appropriate to Guide Clinical Practice?
Rossetti et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1993;111:96-103.
ABSTRACT  

A Whole-Field Scotopic Retinal Sensitivity Test for the Detection of Early Glaucoma Damage
Glovinsky et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1992;110:486-490.
ABSTRACT