Objective:

To evaluate levels of endogenous interferon beta (IFN-β) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) compared to controls.

Key Findings:

• Significantly lower levels of IFN-β were found in both POAG (9.6 pg/mL) and PACG (6.9 pg/mL) groups compared to controls (17.9 pg/mL).
• The reduction in IFN-β was consistent across glaucoma subtypes.
• No significant associations were found between IFN-β levels and intraocular pressure, visual field parameters, or retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

Interpretation:

The findings suggest a role for neuroinflammation in primary glaucomatous disease processes and indicate that IFN-β may modulate inflammatory responses or neuroprotective mechanisms in the eye.

Limitations:

• The study's sample size was relatively small.
• Further research is needed to clarify the functional implications of IFN-β deficiency in glaucoma.

Conclusion:

Modulation of IFN-β could have therapeutic potential in glaucoma management.