Is renal function associated with glaucoma or suspected glaucomatous optic neuropathy -Findings from health screening data in Japan

This study aimed to examine the association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and glaucoma in large-scale health checkup data in Japan. Retrospective cross-sectional study. The dataset consisted of 23,761 eyes of 12,020 subjects in two regions in Japan (Hamamatsu City and Shimane Prefecture). Subsequently, the associations between glaucoma and CKD, CKD stage, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were investigated using the linear mixed model, with adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, lipidemia, body mass index, smoking status, and intraocular pressure (IOP), using each data set. Similarly, the association between IOP and CKD, CKD stage, and eGFR was also investigated. The prevalence of glaucoma was 4.5%. The mean age of those with glaucoma or suspected glaucomatous optic neuropathy was older (58.6 years old) than those without (53.6 years old) in the datasets. In this dataset showed no significant association was found between glaucoma or suspected glaucomatous optic neuropathy and CKD, stage of kidney function, and eGFR (P > 0.05). However, a significant association was found between IOP and CKD (β = − 0.71 [95% CI: −1.30 to −0.13] mmHg, p = 0.016), and eGFR (per 10 mL/min/1.73 m²: β = 0.064 [95% CI: +0.012 to +0.12] mmHg, p = 0.016). The current study with a large-scale health screening program in Japan suggested no association between CKD/renal function and glaucoma or suspected glaucomatous optic neuropathy.