To compare the dietary patterns between normal or high tension glaucoma patients and a normal control population.

A survey using the self-assessment food-frequency questionnaire was given to normal tension glaucoma (NTG) or high tension glaucoma (HTG) patients who visited a glaucoma clinic between June 2008 and September 2008. Healthy Korean subjects who had received routine health examinations at Samsung Medical Center between October 2007 and September 2008 were evaluated with the same questionnaire. Statistical analysis of variable factors including fatty fish, seaweeds, soy products and greasy meats, was performed to compare between groups.

Sixty-two of NTG patients, 25 of HTG patients and 29,376 normal subjects were included in the present study. The mean age of each group was 51.3 ± 13.4, 51.8 ± 17.4 and 50.5 ± 10.4 years, respectively. No significant difference in dietary pattern was found between the subjects with glaucoma and the normal controls ( p > 0.2 in all factors). The dietary pattern of NTG and HTG patients showed no statistically significant difference in all factors ( p > 0.2).

There was no significant difference in a dietary pattern between glaucoma patients and normal subjects. In terms of glaucoma, no possible beneficial or harmful food was found.