Surgical Decisions in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma with Low or Normal Tension

Abstract

Glaucoma, given its insidious nature, is often coined ‘the sneak thief of sight’. Following this trail of thought, primary open angle glaucoma with low or normal tension (POAGLNT) could be coined ‘the king of thieves’. The lack of a compelling red flag of high intraocular pressure (IOP), together with the diurnal fluctuation of the deceptively low baseline IOP, POAGLNT poses a therapeutic challenge in terms of judging when to intervene, and how. In this review article, we will outline the considerations before undergoing surgery: risk stratification, defining goal in terms of target pressure and IOP modulation. We will also review the strengths, weaknesses and pearls of available options.