Purpose To assess whether a low cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSF-P) is associated with open-angle glaucoma in eyes with normal intraocular pressure (IOP). Design Prospective, interventional study. Participants The study included 43 patients with open-angle glaucoma (14 with a normal IOP, and 29 with an elevated IOP) and 71 subjects without glaucoma. Interventions All patients underwent standardized ophthalmologic and neurologic examinations and measurement of lumbar CSF-P. Main Outcome Measures Cerebrospinal fluid pressure and IOP. Results Lumbar CSF-P was significantly (P<0.001) lower in the normal IOP glaucoma group (9.5±2.2 mmHg) than in the high IOP glaucoma group (11.7±2.7 mmHg) or the control group (12.9±1.9 mmHg). The trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference (IOP minus CSF-P) was significantly (P<0.001) higher in the normal IOP glaucoma group (6.6±3.6 mmHg) and the high-IOP glaucoma group (12.5±4.1 mmHg) than in the control group (1.4±1.7 mmHg). The extent of glaucomatous visual field loss was negatively correlated with the height of the CSF-P and positively correlated with the trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference. In the control group, CSF-P was significantly correlated with both systolic blood pressure (P = 0.04) and IOP (P<0.001). The trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference was not significantly associated with blood pressure (P = 0.97). Conclusions In open-angle glaucoma with normal IOP, CSF-P is abnormally low, leading to an abnormally high trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference. Pathogenetically, a low CSF-P in normal-IOP glaucoma may be similar to a high IOP in high-IOP glaucoma. Consequently, the glaucomatous visual field defect is positively correlated with the trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference and inversely correlated with the CSF-P. In nonglaucomatous subjects, CSF-P, blood pressure, and IOP are significantly associated with each other. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article. To assess whether a low cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSF-P) is associated with open-angle glaucoma in eyes with normal intraocular pressure (IOP). Prospective, interventional study. The study included 43 patients with open-angle glaucoma (14 with a normal IOP, and 29 with an elevated IOP) and 71 subjects without glaucoma. All patients underwent standardized ophthalmologic and neurologic examinations and measurement of lumbar CSF-P. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure and IOP. Lumbar CSF-P was significantly (P<0.001) lower in the normal IOP glaucoma group (9.5±2.2 mmHg) than in the high IOP glaucoma group (11.7±2.7 mmHg) or the control group (12.9±1.9 mmHg). The trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference (IOP minus CSF-P) was significantly (P<0.001) higher in the normal IOP glaucoma group (6.6±3.6 mmHg) and the high-IOP glaucoma group (12.5±4.1 mmHg) than in the control group (1.4±1.7 mmHg). The extent of glaucomatous visual field loss was negatively correlated with the height of the CSF-P and positively correlated with the trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference. In the control group, CSF-P was significantly correlated with both systolic blood pressure (P = 0.04) and IOP (P<0.001). The trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference was not significantly associated with blood pressure (P = 0.97). In open-angle glaucoma with normal IOP, CSF-P is abnormally low, leading to an abnormally high trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference. Pathogenetically, a low CSF-P in normal-IOP glaucoma may be similar to a high IOP in high-IOP glaucoma. Consequently, the glaucomatous visual field defect is positively correlated with the trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference and inversely correlated with the CSF-P. In nonglaucomatous subjects, CSF-P, blood pressure, and IOP are significantly associated with each other.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure in Glaucoma