Eyes of African-Americans who have glaucoma tend to have much higher oxygen levels than those of Caucasians with the disease, according to a news release by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
This may explain why glaucoma is six times more common in blacks than in whites and why blindness caused by glaucoma is 16 times more likely in this minority group than among whites.
Researchers said the excess oxygen appears to damage the eye's drainage system, elevating pressure and eventually causing blindness.
Read the release by Washington University School of Medicine on glaucoma.
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