Introduction: Glaucoma is a chronic optic degenerative neuropathy in which people may lose their peripheral vision. Since various factors are involved in the pathogenesis of this disease the aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between serum and aqueous humor selenium levels, serum glutathione and hemolysate and aqueous humor glutathione peroxidase 1 values with primary open angle glaucoma.

Materials & methods: In this study, 45 patients with open-angle glaucoma and 45 controls were randomly selected and diagnosed by specialists. Measurement of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase 1 was normalized by hemoglobin. Hemoglobin and glutathione measurements were performed by colorimetric method. Serum and aqueous humor selenium values were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy with hydride generator. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver.18.

Findings: Total aqueous humor antioxidant value showed no significant difference between patient and control groups (p=0.84). However, both groups showed comparable levels of aqueous humor selenium so that in patients was significantly higher than controls (p=0.02). It was also observed that serum selenium increased significantly in comparison with aqueous humor selenium (p=0.0001). It was also found that aqueous humor selenium was not correlated to intraocular pressure (p=0.045).

Discussion & conclusions: It seems that selenium has an important role in biological pathways associated with pathogenesis of disease.