Here are five recent research findings on glaucoma, a condition affecting more than 4 million Americans.
1. Northern U.S. dwellers have a greater risk of developing glaucoma. Researchers found that patients with a history of living in the middle and southern tiers of the U.S. have a 47 and 75 percent reduced risk of developing exfoliation syndrome, a leading cause of secondary open-angle glaucoma, according to findings published in Ophthalmology. Analyzing data of more than 78,000 women in the Nurses' Health Study and more than 40,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who were followed for at least 20 years, researchers found 248 cases of exfoliation glaucoma.
In addition to finding a greater risk of glaucoma in the northern U.S., they found that residence at age 15 was the most strongly associated with risk, followed by current residence. Researchers also found that men were 60 percent less likely to develop exfoliation syndrome than women. The results also confirmed association with family history but found no association for Scandinavian ancestry or iris color.
2. Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty improves vision in patients with previous glaucoma surgery. Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty improves vision in patients who have already undergone previous glaucoma surgery and results in minimal complications, according to findings published in Cornea. Data from more than 200 cases was analyzed to determine the incidence of complications. Researchers found no difference in the percentages of procedures in eyes with and without previous surgery that resulted in primary graft failure, 5.4 to 4.1 percent, and donor dislocation, 12.5 to 15.2 percent. Intraocular pressure was highest in patients with medically controlled glaucoma at 47.7 percent and lowest in patients with pervious glaucoma surgery at 11.5 percent. Researchers determined that DSEK is an effective procedure to improve vision in patients with advanced glaucoma after trabeculectomy and/or tube shunt implantation.
3. Cataract surgery gains popularity as surgical option for glaucoma. Reay H. Brown, MD, said cataract surgery is gaining popularity for patients with glaucoma because it is less risky than glaucoma surgery at OSN New York 2011. He said cataract surgery is a good fit for patients with open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma, but those with high intraocular pressure, 25 mm Hg or higher, should still consider glaucoma surgery.
4. Patients with glaucoma vision loss have higher fall risk. A new study found 44 percent of patients with glaucoma vision loss fell at least once during a one-year period, and 31 percent experienced falls resulting in injury, according to findings published in Optometry and Vision Science. Researchers analyzed data from 71 community-dwelling adults with primary open-angle glaucoma and found greater visual impairment, especially in the inferior field region, was associated with an increased falls rate. Extensive field loss in the inferior region was associated with a higher rate of falls and falls with injuries, with rate ratios of 1.57 and 1.8 respectively. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, superior field loss and use of topical beta-blockers were not associated with an increased risk.
5. Intraocular pressure can be used to test for glaucoma. Researchers who analyzed the efficacy of a new method of eye pressure measurement say the results could change the way healthcare professionals measure eye pressure and test for glaucoma, according to findings published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. Researchers used a non-contact tonometer known as an Ocular Response Analyzer to measure intraocular pressure, corneal hysteresis, corneal resistance factor and ocular biometric characteristics in 4,184 individuals aged 48 to 91 years. Blood pressure and anthropometric data were also recorded. The study confirmed systolic blood pressure as the most reliable indicator of intraocular pressure.
Related Articles on Ophthalmology:
Dr. Dean Dornic of Laser Eye Center of Carolina to Present at World Ophthalmology Congress in Abu Dhabi
Gainesville Eye Associates Performs First Bladeless Cataract Surgery in Georgia
Ophthalmologist Dr. Mike Reynolds Profiled in Local Report
1. Northern U.S. dwellers have a greater risk of developing glaucoma. Researchers found that patients with a history of living in the middle and southern tiers of the U.S. have a 47 and 75 percent reduced risk of developing exfoliation syndrome, a leading cause of secondary open-angle glaucoma, according to findings published in Ophthalmology. Analyzing data of more than 78,000 women in the Nurses' Health Study and more than 40,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who were followed for at least 20 years, researchers found 248 cases of exfoliation glaucoma.
In addition to finding a greater risk of glaucoma in the northern U.S., they found that residence at age 15 was the most strongly associated with risk, followed by current residence. Researchers also found that men were 60 percent less likely to develop exfoliation syndrome than women. The results also confirmed association with family history but found no association for Scandinavian ancestry or iris color.
2. Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty improves vision in patients with previous glaucoma surgery. Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty improves vision in patients who have already undergone previous glaucoma surgery and results in minimal complications, according to findings published in Cornea. Data from more than 200 cases was analyzed to determine the incidence of complications. Researchers found no difference in the percentages of procedures in eyes with and without previous surgery that resulted in primary graft failure, 5.4 to 4.1 percent, and donor dislocation, 12.5 to 15.2 percent. Intraocular pressure was highest in patients with medically controlled glaucoma at 47.7 percent and lowest in patients with pervious glaucoma surgery at 11.5 percent. Researchers determined that DSEK is an effective procedure to improve vision in patients with advanced glaucoma after trabeculectomy and/or tube shunt implantation.
3. Cataract surgery gains popularity as surgical option for glaucoma. Reay H. Brown, MD, said cataract surgery is gaining popularity for patients with glaucoma because it is less risky than glaucoma surgery at OSN New York 2011. He said cataract surgery is a good fit for patients with open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma, but those with high intraocular pressure, 25 mm Hg or higher, should still consider glaucoma surgery.
4. Patients with glaucoma vision loss have higher fall risk. A new study found 44 percent of patients with glaucoma vision loss fell at least once during a one-year period, and 31 percent experienced falls resulting in injury, according to findings published in Optometry and Vision Science. Researchers analyzed data from 71 community-dwelling adults with primary open-angle glaucoma and found greater visual impairment, especially in the inferior field region, was associated with an increased falls rate. Extensive field loss in the inferior region was associated with a higher rate of falls and falls with injuries, with rate ratios of 1.57 and 1.8 respectively. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, superior field loss and use of topical beta-blockers were not associated with an increased risk.
5. Intraocular pressure can be used to test for glaucoma. Researchers who analyzed the efficacy of a new method of eye pressure measurement say the results could change the way healthcare professionals measure eye pressure and test for glaucoma, according to findings published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. Researchers used a non-contact tonometer known as an Ocular Response Analyzer to measure intraocular pressure, corneal hysteresis, corneal resistance factor and ocular biometric characteristics in 4,184 individuals aged 48 to 91 years. Blood pressure and anthropometric data were also recorded. The study confirmed systolic blood pressure as the most reliable indicator of intraocular pressure.
Related Articles on Ophthalmology:
Dr. Dean Dornic of Laser Eye Center of Carolina to Present at World Ophthalmology Congress in Abu Dhabi
Gainesville Eye Associates Performs First Bladeless Cataract Surgery in Georgia
Ophthalmologist Dr. Mike Reynolds Profiled in Local Report