THE IMPORTANCE OF BLOOD PRESSURE IN GLAUCOMA

This article analyzes the role of blood pressure in the pathophysiology and development of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that leads to damage to the optic nerve due to an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), and changes in blood pressure directly affect the eye and its blood supply. The article examines the norm of blood pressure and the impact of its low (hypotension) or high (hypertension) levels on glaucoma. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), glaucoma affects 80 million people globally and is responsible for 10% of blindness, with blood pressure fluctuations increasing risk factors by 2-3 times (WHO, 2023). Studies show that systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg accelerates glaucoma progression by 40%, while hypertension leads to vascular remodeling in 30% of cases (Leske et al., 2007). The article is structured based on scientific research (meta-analyses and cohort studies) and emphasizes the clinical importance of blood pressure monitoring in glaucoma treatment.