Over a mean 13-year follow-up, structural glaucoma conversion occurred in 2.3% of a large Korean health screening cohort.
Older age, higher intraocular pressure, retinal arteriosclerosis, elevated serum uric acid, and increased total cholesterol independently predicted glaucoma risk.
Retinal arteriosclerosis visible on routine fundus imaging emerges as a significant microvascular risk marker, suggesting a vascular component in glaucoma pathogenesis.
Systemic metabolic factors, alongside ocular parameters, may enhance glaucoma risk stratification in preventive screening settings.
