[Does hypothyroidism contribute to the etiology of primary open angle glaucoma or is it just a coincidence?].

In a prospective study 83 consecutive patients with progressive primary open angle glaucoma (research group) and 62 patients scheduled for cataract surgery (control group), were evaluated for the presence of hypothyroidism by history, blood levels of TSH and free T4 when necessary. In the research group, nine patients (10.8%) had hypothyroidism, 6 of them already known. In group 2 only one patient (1.6%) had known hypothyroidism, this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.005). The association between primary open glaucoma and hypothyroidism is discussed.