A new study reveals that people diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)—a common form of chronic eye disease—may experience a noticeable drop in their mental health after diagnosis.
The findings, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, highlight an important connection between eye health and emotional well-being, especially in the early stages of the condition.
What Is POAG and Why Does It Matter?
Primary open-angle glaucoma is a slow-progressing eye disease that damages the optic nerve, often without any obvious symptoms at first. Over time, it can lead to permanent vision loss. Because the disease is typically painless and symptoms may not appear until later stages, a diagnosis can come as a surprise—and that shock may carry emotional weight.
The new research shows that even early-stage POAG may affect a patient’s mental health, suggesting that the emotional burden of a chronic, vision-threatening condition is real—regardless of whether symptoms are immediately felt.
How the Study Was Done
The researchers used data from the long-running Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS), which tracked eye health in hundreds of adults over many years. They focused on 150 participants—50 with early-stage POAG and 100 without.
Every two years between 2001 and 2008, these participants completed the Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25)—a validated tool used to assess how vision problems affect daily life and mental health. This allowed the researchers to compare mental health scores before and after diagnosis.
Here’s what they found:
Before diagnosis, people who would later develop POAG had a high average mental health score of 94.5 out of 100.
Two years after diagnosis, their average mental health score had dropped to 88.0—a 6.5-point decline.
In contrast, people who did not develop POAG saw almost no change in mental health, with scores staying steady around 93.3 to 92.6.
This drop in score may not seem dramatic, but it reflects a significant shift in emotional well-being and quality of life, especially when compared to those without the disease.
Why Mental Health Is at Risk
Many health professionals have long suspected that being diagnosed with a chronic illness—even one that isn’t immediately disabling—can cause emotional strain. The new study supports this idea and highlights that the mental toll of glaucoma may begin well before any vision loss occurs.
This emotional response might stem from anxiety about the future, fear of going blind, or simply the stress of starting lifelong eye treatments. The disease itself doesn’t necessarily cause the emotional change—the diagnosis does.
Study Limitations to Keep in Mind
While the findings are important, the study had limitations. The sample size was relatively small, and mental health was only measured every two years—meaning short-term effects right after diagnosis might have been missed.
Also, the questionnaire used wasn’t designed to diagnose depression or anxiety—it simply measured self-reported emotional well-being related to vision. Still, the results strongly suggest a connection worth exploring further.
What This Means for Patients and Doctors
The takeaway is clear: diagnosing POAG should include a conversation about mental health. Doctors and eye care providers may need to go beyond the usual treatment plans and offer emotional support or mental health resources at the time of diagnosis.
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