Study Links Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Diagnosis to Decline in Mental Health Scores

A recent study published in JAMA Ophthalmology reveals that a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is associated with a measurable decline in mental health scores. The findings underscore the psychological impact of receiving a glaucoma diagnosis, even in its early stages.

Analysis Based on OHTS Data

The analysis was conducted by Mae O. Gordon, PhD, and colleagues from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, using post-hoc data from phases 1 and 2 of the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS). The researchers focused on participants with ocular hypertension to determine whether mental health status, as measured by the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25), changed following a POAG diagnosis.

Participants who developed POAG completed the VFQ-25 within two years before and within two years after their diagnosis. These individuals were compared to a propensity-matched control group with ocular hypertension who did not develop POAG during the same time frame.

Key Findings: Significant Mental Health Score Decline in POAG Group

A total of 50 participants who developed POAG were included in the study and matched with 100 control participants from the OHTS database.

       • Among participants diagnosed with POAG, mean VFQ-25 mental health scores dropped from 94.5 to 88.0, representing a mean decrease of −6.5 points.

       • In the control group, mean scores changed minimally, from 93.3 to 92.6, a −0.7 point difference.

       • The mean difference in score change between the two groups was −5.8, indicating a notable decline associated specifically with POAG diagnosis.

Clinical Implications: Psychological Impact of Early Diagnosis

The study highlights a potential mental health burden linked to the early diagnosis of glaucoma, even before significant vision loss occurs. The authors emphasize the importance of integrating mental health awareness into glaucoma care strategies:

“As advances in technology enable earlier diagnosis of POAG, the impact of POAG diagnosis itself on mental health becomes increasingly relevant,” the authors concluded.

These findings suggest that alongside clinical monitoring and treatment, psychosocial support may be a vital component of comprehensive care for patients newly diagnosed with POAG.

References:

Mae O. Gordon et al, Diagnosis of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Mental Health Status, JAMA Ophthalmology (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.1374

Gerald McGwin et al, Appreciating the Role of Mental Health in Glaucoma Diagnosis and Care, JAMA Ophthalmology (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.1600