Glaucoma risk factors
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rohan Bir Singh, M.B.B.S.[2]
Risk factors
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
- Age : The risk increases with the increase in age.The visual field defects are 7 times more likely to progress in patients above the age 60 years in comparison to those younger than 40 years. Although an increase in lOP with age has been observed in many populations. Several studies in Japan have shown a relationship between glaucoma and age even with no increase in lOP in the population.[1]
- Race : The prevalence of POAG is 3-4 times greater in black persons and Hispanic persons as compared to non-Hispanic Caucasian individuals. The loss of vision as a consequence of glaucoma is at least 4 times more common in blacks than in Caucasian population.The Baltimore Eye Survey found that the prevalence of glaucoma increases dramatically with age, particularly among black persons, exceeding 11% in those aged 80 years or older.[2]
- Family History: A positive family history is a risk factor for POAG. The relative risk of POAG is increased by 3.7-fold for individuals who have a sibling with diagnosed POAG.[3]
- Myopia : The concurrence of POAG and myopia cause difficulty in diagnosis and management of POAG. There is an increased difficulty in evaluation of the optic disc is particularly complicated in highly myopic eyes that have tilted discs. Myopia-related retinal abnormalities can cause visual field defects along with glaucoma. A high refractive error may also make it difficult to perform accurate perimetric measurement and to interpret visual field abnormalities.
- Diabetes Mellitus : The role of diabetes mellitus in causing POAG is still not clear. Though some studies have found diabetes plays a significant role in the disease, other studies have not found any corelation.[4]
- Hypertension : The systemic hypertension is associated with a low risk of the presence of glaucoma in younger patients and with an increased risk in patients above 65 years of age. With advancing age, the adverse effects of chronic hypertension on the optic nerve microcirculation may lead to the nerve's susceptibility to the development of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Some studeis demonstrate that lower ocular perfusion pressure is a strong risk factor for the development of glaucoma, independent of lOP alone. The overtreatment of systemic hypertension may be a contributing factor to glaucoma progression in some cases and hence, should be avoided.[4]
- Retinal vein occlusion : The patients with central retinal vein occlusion may lead to an elevated lOP and subsequentlu glaucoma. In some case, there may be presentation of preexisting POAG or other types of glaucoma. After CRVO, patients may develop angle-closure glaucoma or, at a later stage, neovascular glaucoma.
- Sleep apnea
- Thyroid disorders
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Migraine
- Raynaud Phenomenon
Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma
- Race : The prevalence in patients older than 40 years depends on race. In Caucasian population it is 0.1%-0.6% , 0.1%-0.2% in blacks, 2.1%-5.0% in the Inuit, 0.4%-1.4% in East Asians, and 0.3% in the Japanese. The underlying cause of these differences is due to the difference in the biometric parameters i.e. anterior chamber depth, the axial length of the different populations. However, the increased incidence in the Chinese and East Asian populations are not due to biometric parameters. In most cases, angle-closure presents as an asymptomatic chronic disease without an acute attack.[5]
- Ocular Anatomy: The most important risk factor an eye to angle closure are a shallow anterior chamber, a thick lens, increased anterior curvature of the lens, a short Axial length, and a small corneal diameter and radius of curvature. The anterior chamber depth less than 2.5 mm predisposes patients to primary angle closure, whereas most patients with primary angle closure have an ACD of less than 2.1 mm. The primary PAS is rarely associated with an ACD of greater than 2.4 mm, however there is a strong correlation of increasing PAS formation with an ACD shallower than 2.4 mm.
- Age: The prevalence of ACG increases with each decade after 40 years of age. This increased prevalence is due to the increasing thickness and forward movement of the lens with age, and the resultant increase in iridolenticular contact. PACG is rare in persons younger than 40 years, and the etiology of angle closure in young individuals is most often related to structural or developmental anomalies, rarely due to pupillary block.
References
- ↑ Iwase, Aiko; Suzuki, Yasuyuki; Araie, Makoto; Yamamoto, Tetsuya; Abe, Haruki; Shirato, Shiroaki; Kuwayama, Yasuaki; Mishima, Hiromu K.; Shimizu, Hiroyuki; Tomita, Goji; Inoue, Yoichi; Kitazawa, Yoshiaki (2004). "The prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma in Japanese". Ophthalmology. Elsevier BV. 111 (9): 1641–1648. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2004.03.029. ISSN 0161-6420. PMID 15350316.
- ↑ Tielsch, James M. (1991-07-17). "Racial Variations in the Prevalence of Primary Open-angle Glaucoma". JAMA. American Medical Association (AMA). 266 (3): 369. doi:10.1001/jama.1991.03470030069026. ISSN 0098-7484.
- ↑ "Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) Clinical Presentation: History, Physical, Causes". Medscape Reference. 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Klaver, Caroline C. W. (1998-05-01). "Age-Specific Prevalence and Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment in an Older Population". Archives of Ophthalmology. American Medical Association (AMA). 116 (5): 653. doi:10.1001/archopht.116.5.653. ISSN 0003-9950.
- ↑ Kaplan NM, Simmons M, McPhee C, Carnegie A, Stefanu C, Cade S (September 1982). "Two techniques to improve adherence to dietary sodium restriction in the treatment of hypertension". Arch. Intern. Med. 142 (9): 1638–41. PMID 7114983.