Faculty > Kass

Michael A. Kass, M.D.

Professor and Chair, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
(314) 362-3937

B.S. Biology, Northwestern University (1963); M.S. Neurophysiology, Northwestern University (1966); M.D. Northwestern University (1966); Intern, Medicine, Passavant Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL (1966-1967); Resident, Ophthalmology, Barnes Hospital/Washington University Medical Center (1969-1971); Fellow, Glaucoma, Washington University (1971-1972)

Research Area:

Glaucoma

Research Interests:

Diagnosis, treatment and epidemiology of glaucoma

Dr. Kass is the Principal Investigator of the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS), which is a multicenter clinical trial that is being conducted in 22 clinical centers in the United States. OHTS has shown that treatment of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) delays or prevents the onset of glaucomatous damage. Risk factors for developing primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) include older age, higher IOP, larger cup/disc ratio, and thinner central corneal measurement. OHTS has entered a new phase where all participants are offered medical treatment. OHTS hopes to determine whether there is a penalty for delaying treatment in ocular hypertension. Additional studies are underway to refine the risk model of who will develop POAG, to identify early signs of glaucomatous damage, and to understand the racial differences in the incidence and prevalence of POAG. The papers listed below summarize the primary outcomes of OHTS.

Selected Publications:

  1. Kass MA, Heuer DK, Higginbotham EJ, Johnson CA, Keltner JL, Miller JP, Parrish RK, Wilson MR, Gordon MO, for the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study Group. The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. A randomized trial determines that topical ocular hypotensive medication delays or prevents the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 2002; 120:701-713.
  2. Gordon MO, Beiser JA, Brandt JD, Heuer DK, Higginbotham EJ, Johnson CA, Keltner JL, Miller JP, Parrish RK, Wilson MR, Kass MA, for the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study Group. The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. Baseline factors that predict the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol2002; 120:714-720.
  3. Higginbotham EJ, Gordon, MO, Beiser JA, Drake MV, Bennett GR, Wilson MR, Kass MA, for the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. The Ocular Hypertension treatment Study: topical medication delays or prevents primary open-angle glaucoma in African american individuals. Arch Ophthalmol 2004; 122:813-820.


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