Open-angle glaucoma — DVA SoP factors

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 49 of 2021

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting open-angle glaucoma or death from open-angle glaucoma with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1. (1)
   having glucocorticoid therapy as specified, before the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma, and where the glucocorticoid therapy as specified has ceased, the last dose of the therapy was received within the three months before the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;

   Note: glucocorticoid therapy as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

2. (2)
   having uveitis, scleritis or episcleritis at the time of the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;

   Note: uveitis, scleritis and episcleritis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

3. (3)
   having: (a) a benign or malignant neoplasm; or (b) a non-neoplastic lesion; of the affected eye at the time of the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;

   Note: Examples of a benign or malignant neoplasm include lymphoma, trabecular meshwork melanoma, choroidal metastasis and retinoblastoma.

   Note: Examples of a non-neoplastic lesion include cyst, ocular haemorrhage (including ghost cells), leakage of lens protein or lens particles and vascular malformation or thrombosis.

4. (4)
   having growth of new blood vessels (neovascularisation) of the iridocorneal angle due to a condition or procedure involving the affected eye from the specified list of conditions or procedures, before the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;

   Note: specified list of conditions or procedures is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

5. (5)
   having trauma to the affected eye before the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;

   Note: trauma is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

6. (6)
   having sympathetic ophthalmia at the time of the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;

   Note: sympathetic ophthalmia is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

7. (7)
   having intraocular surgery to the affected eye before the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;
8. (8)
   undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the affected eye was in the field of radiation, before the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;
9. (9)
   having a disease from the specified list of endocrine diseases within the 12 months before the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;

   Note: specified list of endocrine diseases is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

10. (10)
    having hypertension before the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;
11. (11)
    having dyslipidaemia before the clinical onset of open-angle glaucoma;

    Note: dyslipidaemia is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

12. (12)
    having glucocorticoid therapy as specified, before the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma, and where the glucocorticoid therapy as specified has ceased, the last dose of the therapy was received within the three months before the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;

    Note: glucocorticoid therapy as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

13. (13)
    having uveitis, scleritis or episcleritis at the time of the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;

    Note: uveitis, scleritis and episcleritis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

14. (14)
    having: (a) a benign or malignant neoplasm; or (b) a non-neoplastic lesion; of the affected eye at the time of the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;

    Note: Examples of a benign or malignant neoplasm include lymphoma, trabecular meshwork melanoma, choroidal metastasis and retinoblastoma.

    Note: Examples of a non-neoplastic lesion include cyst, ocular haemorrhage (including ghost cells), leakage of lens protein or lens particles and vascular malformation or thrombosis.

15. (15)
    having growth of new blood vessels (neovascularisation) of the iridocorneal angle due to a condition or procedure involving the affected eye from the specified list of conditions or procedures, before the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;

    Note: specified list of conditions or procedures is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

16. (16)
    having trauma to the affected eye before the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;

    Note: trauma is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

17. (17)
    having sympathetic ophthalmia at the time of the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;

    Note: sympathetic ophthalmia is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

18. (18)
    having intraocular surgery to the affected eye before the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;
19. (19)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the affected eye was in the field of radiation, before the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;
20. (20)
    having a disease from the specified list of endocrine diseases within the 12 months before the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;

    Note: specified list of endocrine diseases is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

21. (21)
    having hypertension before the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;
22. (22)
    having dyslipidaemia before the clinical worsening of open-angle glaucoma;

    Note: dyslipidaemia is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

23. (23)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for open-angle glaucoma;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(12) to 9(23) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.