Association Between Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

AIM: To compare the prevalence of Pylori infection in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and control group with cataract. METHODS: This is a prospective case-control study. The participants were organized in two groups. First group (case) consisted of 35 patients with POAG and second group consisted of 35 age matched participants with cataract whose optic disk could be evaluated. Serum levels of anti H. pylori IgG antibody were evaluated with the method of ELISA. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of Pylori infection was 89.1 % (33 of 37) in patients with POAG and 59.5 % (25 of 42) in the control group. The difference was significant (P=0.008). The odds ratio for association between Pylori and POAG was 5.69 and the range of 95% confidence interval was from 1.58 to 20.50. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Helicobacter Pylori infection might be associated with primary open angle glaucoma.