Research identifies risk factors associated with progression of glaucoma

May 9, 2011 in Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Elevated pressure inside the eye, cornea thinning, and visual field loss are all markers that glaucoma may progress, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

Glaucoma is one of the world's leading causes of permanent . It is a group of diseases that can lead to damage of the and can result in vision loss and blindness. Previous studies of glaucoma do not always represent the majority of patients or real-world practices in treating them. "The purpose of our study is to verify whether the main risk factors identified in populations enrolled in the major RCTs [randomized clinical trials] can also be applied to populations seen in scenarios that more closely resemble a typical clinical practice," explain the authors.

Carlos Gustavo V. De Moraes, M.D., from the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and colleagues collected data from patients who were enrolled in the New York Glaucoma Progression Study and who had at least eight visits for visual field loss. The study included disc photographs; visual field analysis; and measurement of peak (IOP), the highest level of pressure in the fluid within the eye. A total of 587 eyes of 587 patients were evaluated.

Researchers found that glaucoma was more likely to progress when peak IOP was 18 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) or higher. Other risk factors included thinning of the cornea, presence of disc hemorrhage in the of the eye, and atrophy in part of the eye.

According to the authors, perhaps the most significant findings involved the effect of IOP: "We demonstrated that for each increase in millimeters of mercury in IOP, there is a significant increase in the risk of progression for treated glaucoma patients." Since this is a simple measurement to take in the clinical setting, the findings "may help clinicians decide how aggressively to treat specific patients to slow the rate of glaucoma progression," the authors write. They also pointed to disc as "an indirect sign" of visual field loss that may already have occurred, and erosion of the visual field as well as cornea thinning as predictors of progression.

More information: Arch Ophthalmol. 2011;129[5]:562-568

Provided by JAMA and Archives Journals search and more info website

not rated yet  

Rank not rated yet
Relevant PhysicsForums posts

More news stories

Hair loss pathology identified in pityriasis versicolor lesions

(HealthDay) -- Patients with pityriasis versicolor (PV) lesions may experience hair thinning and/or loss within the lesion, according to a study published online May 10 in the Journal of the American Academy of ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 2 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Cleft lip/palate cause much more than cosmetic problems

Children born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial disorders face numerous medical challenges beyond appearance.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 14 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Studies examine CPAP treatment and cardiovascular outcomes in adults with obstructive sleep apnea

Two studies that included adults with obstructive sleep apnea examined the effectiveness of reducing the risk of cardiovascular outcomes, including high blood pressure, by treatment with continuous positive airway pressure ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 15 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study reveals sarcoidosis-related mortality rates among black women

A new study conducted by researchers from Boston University has found that sarcoidosis accounts for 25 percent of all deaths among women in the Black Women's Health Study who have the disease. The study is the largest epidemiologic ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 17 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Research suggests why bovine TB continues to spread

The failure of the current bovine tuberculosis (TB) eradication programme could be partly due to a parasitic worm that hinders the tests used to diagnose TB in cows, according to new research published this week.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 18 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Molecular 'on-off' switch for Parkinson's disease discovered

(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation Unit at the University of Dundee have discovered a new molecular switch that acts to protect the brain from developing Parkinson's ...

Scientists turn patients' skin cells into heart muscle cells to repair their damaged hearts

For the first time scientists have succeeded in taking skin cells from heart failure patients and reprogramming them to transform into healthy, new heart muscle cells that are capable of integrating with existing heart tissue.

Scientists start explaining Fat Bastard's vicious cycle

Fat Bastard's revelation "I eat because I'm depressed and I'm depressed because I eat" in the Austin Powers film series may be explained by sophisticated neuroscience research being undertaken by scientists affiliated with ...

Socioeconomics may affect toddlers' exposure to flame retardants

A Duke University-led study of North Carolina toddlers suggests that exposure to potentially toxic flame-retardant chemicals may be higher in nonwhite toddlers than in white toddlers.

Simple motions, complex tool New robot successfully performs surgical closure in a beating heart

A new robotic device may be the solution to a longstanding surgical dilemma: how to precisely manipulate tools within the delicate tissues of a beating heart, report researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital. The team’s ...

Kids suffer long-term from parents' smoking: study

Children exposed to their parents' cigarette smoke are at greater risk of suffering serious cardiovascular health problems later in life, a study showed Wednesday.