Prevalence Of Open-angle Glaucoma Research Articles

Should we be worried about glaucoma? Why the prevalence of glaucoma is variably reported

AimThis paper reports on a recent review of the prevalence of glaucoma, and identifies factors that impact on its variable reporting.BackgroundGlaucoma is a recognized chronic degenerative health problem worldwide, in which approximately two-thirds of sufferers are undiagnosed. Therefore it is important to better quantify glaucoma prevalence to plan adequate resources for effective risk screening, diagnosis, management and prevention. Accurate prevalence data also assist in determining the nature of relationships between glaucoma and putative risks.MethodsA comprehensive search of peer-reviewed databases was conducted to identify and critically appraise secondary evidence published between 2002 and 2007. Glaucoma definitions, prevalence, incidence and risk factor data were extracted and compared in the context of their population descriptors.FindingsThere was no standard definition of glaucoma or standard population descriptors (age, ethnicity, country) utilized by either the primary studies included in the secondary evidence or as inclusion criteria in the secondary evidence. Prevalence for glaucoma of between 1–4% was commonly reported. Despite this, the influence of age and ethnicity on glaucoma prevalence within specific populations was repeatedly highlighted. There was consistency across studies of the decreased risk of white (European) populations compared with other ethnic groups. There was an exponential increase in prevalence of glaucoma over decades of increasing age. There were limited Australian data; however, prevalence of open-angle glaucoma is comparable with international figures. There is a clear need for worldwide agreement on standard epidemiological descriptors of glaucoma, using standard population frameworks, terminology and age groups.

Effect of selected antihypertensives, antidiabetics, statins and diuretics on adjunctive medical treatment of glaucoma: A population based study

ABSTRACTBackground: The prevalence of open angle glaucoma increases with age, with many patients also receiving medications for non-ocular systemic diseases. Little is known about how systemic medications impact on the need for adjunctive therapy with prostaglandin analogues (PGA).Objectives: To evaluate whether systemic medications for hypertension, cholesterol, or glucose influence the need for adjunctive intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering medications in patients using PGAs.Methods: Pharmaceutical records from the Québec prescription database provided a sample of patients receiving prescriptions for bimatoprost, latanoprost, or travoprost, from which subjects receiving ≥1 prescription for antihypertensives, antidiabetics. diuretics, and statins were identified. Chi-square tests compared proportions using PGAs to those using PGAs + adjunctive therapy, based on the use or non-use of systemic medications; a logistic regression was performed post hoc to adjust for gender and age.Results: Of the 8548 evaluated patients (all using PGAs); 2934 (34.3%) took none of the studied systemic drugs. For the 5614 patients taking systemic medications, significantly fewer (p < 0.001) required an additional IOP lowering medication if taking a systemic antihypertensive medication. The use of a statin or a diabetic medication, alone or in combination, in addition to a PGA, made no significant difference in the need for adjunct glaucoma therapy. Individual drugs associated with significantly less utilization of adjunctive glaucoma medications were calcium-channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and combination antihypertensive therapies.Discussion: A profound association between systemic antihypertensive use and a reduced need for adjunct topical IOP lowering medications in patients using the same prostaglandin analogue for at least one year was found.Limitations: The use of a prescription claims database without patient compliance or patient outcomes may not reflect actual patient medication use. In addition, these findings may not be applicable to all patients initiating prostaglandin analogues.Conclusions: In this real-world population-based evaluation, a significant association exists between using systemic antihypertensive medications and reduced use of adjunctive IOP lowering therapies. These results confirm findings from previous studies suggesting an IOP lowering effect with systemic agents or some synergy with topical therapies.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Glaucoma

Glaucoma is increasingly recognized as a neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the accelerated loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Open angle glaucoma prevalence and incidence increase exponentially with increasing age, yet the pathophysiology underlying increasing age as a risk factor for glaucoma is not well understood. Accumulating evidence points to age-related mitochondrial dysfunction playing a key role in the etiology of other neurodegenerative disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. The 2 major functions of mitochondria are the generation of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation and the regulation of cell death by apoptosis. This review details evidence to support our hypothesis that age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction renders RGCs susceptible to glaucomatous injury by reducing the energy available for repair processes and predisposing RGCs to apoptosis. Eliciting the role of mitochondria in glaucoma pathogenesis may uncover novel therapeutic targets for protecting the optic nerve and preventing vision loss in glaucoma.

Ocular perfusion pressure and glaucoma: the Beijing Eye Study

The purpose of the study was to examine a relationship between ocular perfusion pressure and open-angle glaucoma in a population-based setting in China. The Beijing Eye Study 2006 is a population-based investigation, which included 3251 subjects (response rate: 73.2%). Mean age was 60.4+/-10.0 years (range, 45-89 years). Glaucoma was defined by a glaucomatous appearance of the optic disc. Neither in univariate nor in multivariate statistical analysis, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure, and ocular perfusion pressure were significantly associated with the prevalence of open-angle glaucoma. It also holds true if the whole glaucoma group was differentiated into a normal-pressure glaucoma group and a high-pressure glaucoma group. In contrast to earlier population-based studies on western societies, the prevalence of open-glaucoma (also when differentiated into normal-pressure and high-pressure glaucomas) was not associated with the ocular perfusion pressure. The reasons for the discrepancy may be that most of the glaucoma patients in this study were untreated; that more than 80% of the glaucoma subjects of the present investigation had an intraocular pressure measurement <22 mmHg; and differences in the definition of glaucoma.

Pseudoexfoliation as a risk factor for prevalent open‐angle glaucoma

To estimate the risk of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) associated with exposure to pseudoexfoliation (PEX) and increased intraocular pressure (IOP). In 1984-86, a cross-sectional, population-based survey was conducted in the municipality of Tierp, central Sweden. Its target population comprised 2429 residents aged 65-74 years. In addition to a sample of 760 people, patients previously diagnosed with glaucoma were examined. The prevalence of OAG in the target population was estimated from the prevalence in the sample and patients already diagnosed. A review of prevalent cases in 1984-86 was undertaken in 2006. Definite OAG was established in 77 cases, corresponding to a prevalence of 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4-6.2). Of these, 23 represented newly detected cases. The prevalence of PEX was 17.2% (95% CI 14.6-19.9), calculated from 134 cases in the population sample. When adjusting for gender, PEX was associated with a 4.7-fold (95% CI 2.2-9.4) increased risk of OAG. For clinical cases only, the risk was 16-fold (95% CI 4.8-56) greater in subjects with PEX, compared with those without PEX. In individuals without a previous diagnosis of glaucoma, an IOP > or = 20 mmHg was associated with a 9.7-fold (95% CI 3.7-27) increased risk, but PEX alone was not a risk factor for OAG (adjusted odds ratio = 0.96). Pseudoexfoliation was associated with OAG only in people previously diagnosed with the disease. In cases detected in the population-based survey, increased IOP was a serious risk factor.

Intraocular Pressure, Central Corneal Thickness, and Prevalence of Open-Angle Glaucoma: The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study

To examine the relationship between the prevalence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and intraocular pressure (IOP) and the impact of central corneal thickness (CCT) on this relationship. Population-based cross-sectional study. The study cohort consisted of 5,970 participants from the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES) with no history of glaucoma treatment and with complete ophthalmic examination data. The relationship between the prevalence of OAG and IOP was contrasted across persons with CCT designated as thin, normal, or thick. Prevalence of OAG was exponentially related to IOP. When stratified by CCT, persons with thin CCT had a significantly higher prevalence of OAG than did those with normal or thick CCTs at all levels of IOP. Adjusting each IOP individually for CCT did not impact significantly the relationship between the prevalence of OAG and IOP. These findings suggest that adjusting for the impact of CCT on IOP by correction algorithms is not necessary in a population based assessment of glaucoma prevalence; CCT, however, is an important independent risk factor for the prevalence of OAG.

Prevalence of Open Angle Glaucoma in Accompanying First Degree Relatives of Patients with Glaucoma

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of open angle glaucoma in first-degree relatives accompanying POAG patients during routine examination in a reference hospital.METHODFirst-degree relatives of primary open angle glaucoma patients who accompanied their relatives to the glaucoma service of a reference hospital were screened for glaucoma.RESULTSOne-hundred and one first-degree relatives were examined, of which 56.4% had never had their intraocular pressure measured. 10.9% had previously been diagnosed with glaucoma, and 5.9% were newly diagnosed during this study.CONCLUSIONSThe eye examination of first-degree relatives identified a significant percentage of individuals with glaucoma. Despite being first-degree relatives of glaucoma patients, 56.4% of the companions had never had their eye pressure measured, demonstrating a lack of awareness about this disease.

Prevalence of Open-angle Glaucoma, Glaucoma Suspect, and Ocular Hypertension in Thyroid-related Immune Orbitopathy

Prevalence of Open-angle Glaucoma, Glaucoma Suspect, and Ocular Hypertension in Thyroid-related Immune Orbitopathy

Economic evaluation of screening for open-angle glaucoma

The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening for open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in the United Kingdom, given that OAG is an important cause of blindness worldwide. A Markov model was developed to estimate lifetime costs and benefits of a cohort of patients facing, alternatively, screening or current opportunistic case finding strategies. Strategies, varying in how screening would be organized (e.g., invitation for assessment by a glaucoma-trained optometrist [GO] or for simple test assessment by a technician) were developed, and allowed for the progression of OAG and treatment effects. Data inputs were obtained from systematic reviews. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Screening was more likely to be cost-effective as prevalence increased, for 40 year olds compared with 60 or 75 year olds, when the re-screening interval was greater (10 years), and for the technician strategy compared with the GO strategy. For each age cohort and at prevalence levels of < or =1 percent, the likelihood that either screening strategy would be more cost-effective than current practice was small. For those 40 years of age, "technician screening" compared with current practice has an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) that society might be willing to pay when prevalence is 6 percent to 10 percent and at over 10 percent for 60 year olds. In the United Kingdom, the age specific prevalence of OAG is much lower. Screening by GO, at any age or prevalence level, was not associated with an ICER < pound 30,000. Population screening for OAG is unlikely to be cost-effective but could be for specific subgroups at higher risk.

Solving the enigma of exfoliation glaucoma: a breakthrough in glaucoma research

Solving the enigma of exfoliation glaucoma: a breakthrough in glaucoma research

Incidence and prevalence of pseudoexfoliation and open‐angle glaucoma in northern Sweden: I. Baseline report

To evaluate the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) among 66-year-old people in the municipality of Skellefteå in northern Sweden. A population-based study comprising 339 individuals, representing 40% of the age group and 87% of those randomly selected. The examination included tonometry, dilated slit-lamp biomicroscopy, optic disc evaluation and a visual field analysis if glaucoma was suspected. The overall prevalence of PEX syndrome was 23%[95% confidence interval (CI): 20-26%], 29% (CI: 24-34%) in women and 15% (CI: 10-19%) in men (P < 0.01). The intraocular pressure (IOP) in PEX eyes was higher (17.3 mmHg, SD 4.5 mmHg) than in eyes without PEX [15.7 mmHg, SD 3.7 mmHg; P < 0.001]. IOP exceeded 22 mmHg in 17% (CI: 11-23%) of the PEX eyes and in 3.0% (CI: 1.9-4.1%) of the non-PEX eyes. Seven individuals (2.1%) had OAG. Six were associated with PEX, i.e. 7.7% of the PEX individuals. PEX syndrome is common in northern Sweden, affecting every fourth individual reaching the age of 66 years. The prevalence in women is twice that in men. Elevated IOP is roughly six times more frequent in eyes with PEX than in eyes without PEX syndrome. The prevalence of OAG is 2.1%.

Incidence and prevalence of pseudoexfoliations and open‐angle glaucoma in northern Sweden: II. Results after 21 years of follow‐up

To prospectively evaluate the prevalence and incidence of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) with and without PEX and to evaluate PEX as a risk factor for glaucoma in a population born in 1915 and living in the municipality of Skellefteå in northern Sweden. A randomized population study comprising 339 individuals. The cohort was followed for 21 years at 7 year intervals. The examination included tonometry, dilated slit-lamp biomicroscopy, optic disc evaluation and, if glaucoma was suspected, a visual field analysis. The prevalence of PEX increased from 23%[95% confidence interval (CI): 20-26] at 66 years of age to 61% (CI 50-71) at 87 years. The annual incidence of PEX was 1.8% (CI 1.3-2.4). In the group of subjects with unilateral PEX, 55% converted to bilateral PEX during follow-up. The prevalence of OAG was 2.1% (CI 0.8-4.3%) at 66 years of age and 25% (CI 16-35) at 87 years. Of the glaucoma cases, 59% had PEX. There was no difference in incidence between the sexes. The annual incidence of PEX and OAG did not increase with time. The overall annual incidence of OAG was 0.9% (CI 0.6-1.3%) [0.5% (CI 0.2-0.9) without PEX and 2.1% (CI 1.2-3.3) with PEX]. PEX increased the risk of glaucoma four fold in both sexes. There was no significant difference in mortality between individuals with or without PEX. PEX syndrome and OAG are common in the north of Sweden. Prevalences increase with age. PEX increases the risk of glaucoma four fold. The consequences of this situation demand guidelines for handling patients with PEX, with or without other risk factors. In order to issue guidelines, more information is needed on the impact of the disease on the general health in the ageing population.

The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening for open angle glaucoma: a systematic review and economic evaluation

To assess whether open angle glaucoma (OAG) screening meets the UK National Screening Committee criteria, to compare screening strategies with case finding, to estimate test parameters, to model estimates of cost and cost-effectiveness, and to identify areas for future research. Major electronic databases were searched up to December 2005. Screening strategies were developed by wide consultation. Markov submodels were developed to represent screening strategies. Parameter estimates were determined by systematic reviews of epidemiology, economic evaluations of screening, and effectiveness (test accuracy, screening and treatment). Tailored highly sensitive electronic searches were undertaken. Most potential screening tests reviewed had an estimated specificity of 85% or higher. No test was clearly most accurate, with only a few, heterogeneous studies for each test. No randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of screening were identified. Based on two treatment RCTs, early treatment reduces the risk of progression. Extrapolating from this, and assuming accelerated progression with advancing disease severity, without treatment the mean time to blindness in at least one eye was approximately 23 years, compared to 35 years with treatment. Prevalence would have to be about 3-4% in 40 year olds with a screening interval of 10 years to approach cost-effectiveness. It is predicted that screening might be cost-effective in a 50-year-old cohort at a prevalence of 4% with a 10-year screening interval. General population screening at any age, thus, appears not to be cost-effective. Selective screening of groups with higher prevalence (family history, black ethnicity) might be worthwhile, although this would only cover 6% of the population. Extension to include other at-risk cohorts (e.g. myopia and diabetes) would include 37% of the general population, but the prevalence is then too low for screening to be considered cost-effective. Screening using a test with initial automated classification followed by assessment by a specialised optometrist, for test positives, was more cost-effective than initial specialised optometric assessment. The cost-effectiveness of the screening programme was highly sensitive to the perspective on costs (NHS or societal). In the base-case model, the NHS costs of visual impairment were estimated as 669 pounds. If annual societal costs were 8800 pounds, then screening might be considered cost-effective for a 40-year-old cohort with 1% OAG prevalence assuming a willingness to pay of 30,000 pounds per quality-adjusted life-year. Of lesser importance were changes to estimates of attendance for sight tests, incidence of OAG, rate of progression and utility values for each stage of OAG severity. Cost-effectiveness was not particularly sensitive to the accuracy of screening tests within the ranges observed. However, a highly specific test is required to reduce large numbers of false-positive referrals. The findings that population screening is unlikely to be cost-effective are based on an economic model whose parameter estimates have considerable uncertainty. In particular, if rate of progression and/or costs of visual impairment are higher than estimated then screening could be cost-effective. While population screening is not cost-effective, the targeted screening of high-risk groups may be. Procedures for identifying those at risk, for quality assuring the programme, as well as adequate service provision for those screened positive would all be needed. Glaucoma detection can be improved by increasing attendance for eye examination, and improving the performance of current testing by either refining practice or adding in a technology-based first assessment, the latter being the more cost-effective option. This has implications for any future organisational changes in community eye-care services. Further research should aim to develop and provide quality data to populate the economic model, by conducting a feasibility study of interventions to improve detection, by obtaining further data on costs of blindness, risk of progression and health outcomes, and by conducting an RCT of interventions to improve the uptake of glaucoma testing.

Prevalence of Open-Angle Glaucoma in Greece: The Thessaloniki Eye Study

To estimate the prevalence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in a population-based sample of subjects 60 years of age or older in Thessaloniki, Greece. Cross-sectional population-based study. Subjects randomly identified from municipality registers in Thessaloniki underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination. Glaucoma was defined in two ways. Definition 1 was based on the presence of both glaucomatous optic disk and confirmed glaucomatous visual field defect. Subjects also were classified as having glaucoma when the clinical judgment was strongly in favor of the presence of glaucoma even though the strict criteria were not fulfilled (definition 2). Of the 3,617 eligible subjects, 2,554 (71%) participated. The prevalence of OAG was 3.8% and 5.5% by definitions 1 and 2, respectively. The prevalence of primary OAG was 2.7% and 3.8% by definitions 1 and 2, respectively, and the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG) was 1.1% and 1.7% by definitions 1 and 2, respectively. Pseudoexfoliation was present in 11.9% of participants, whereas 15.2% among those with pseudoexfoliation had PEXG. The prevalence of OAG in the Thessaloniki Eye Study (TES) is similar or slightly higher compared with other population-based studies in White persons. The overall slightly higher prevalence of OAG in the TES compared with other studies may be attributed to the high prevalence of PEXG in the TES.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Risk of Open-angle Glaucoma: The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study

To examine the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the risk of having open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in an adult Latino population. Population-based cross-sectional study. Latinos 40 years and older (n = 5894) from 6 census tracts in Los Angeles, California. Participants from the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES), a large population-based study of self-identified adult Latinos, answered an interviewer-administered questionnaire and underwent a clinical and complete ocular examination, including visual field (VF) testing and stereo fundus photography. A participant was defined as having diabetes mellitus (DM) if she or he had a history of being treated for DM, the participant's glycosylated hemoglobin was measured at 7.0% or higher, or the participant had random blood glucose of 200 mg% or higher. Type 2 DM was defined if the participant was 30 years or older when diagnosed with DM. Open-angle glaucoma was defined as the presence of an open angle and a glaucomatous VF abnormality and/or evidence of glaucomatous optic disc damage in at least one eye. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk of having OAG in persons with T2DM. Prevalence of OAG. Of the 5894 participants with complete data, 1157 (19.6%) had T2DM and 288 (4.9%) had OAG. The prevalence of OAG was 40% higher in participants with T2DM than in those without T2DM (age/gender/intraocular pressure-adjusted odds ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.8; P = 0.03). Trend analysis revealed that a longer duration of T2DM (stratified into 5-year increments) was associated with a higher prevalence of OAG (P<0.0001). The presence of T2DM and a longer duration of T2DM were independently associated with a higher risk of having OAG in the LALES cohort. The high prevalences of T2DM and OAG and their association in this fastest growing segment of the United States population have significant implications for designing screening programs targeting Latinos.

The enigma of exfoliation syndrome

The enigma of exfoliation syndrome

Prevalence of Open-angle Glaucoma, Glaucoma Suspect, and Ocular Hypertension in Thyroid-related Immune Orbitopathy

To determine the prevalence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG), glaucoma suspects (GS), and ocular hypertension (OHT) in patients with thyroid-related immune orbitopathy (TRIO) and compare it with a control group. In this cross-sectional analytic study, 233 eyes of 117 patients with TRIO (case group) and 240 eyes of 120 normal age and sex-matched individuals (control group) underwent complete ocular examinations. Grave orbitopathy (GO) was diagnosed by clinical examinations with the help of an endocrinologist and para clinic tests. Controls were selected among apparently healthy individuals with no history of previous orbitopathy or thyroid diseases. Prevalence of OAG and OHT was 2.5% and 8.5% in the case group, respectively. In contrast, OAG was detected in only 2 eyes (0.8%) of the control group and there were no instances of GS or OHT in the control group. Although the prevalence of OAG and GS were higher in cases than controls, this difference was not statistically significant. However, OHT was more common in cases (P<0.01). Ten eyes in the case group (4.3%) developed compressive optic neuropathy (CON); high intraocular pressure was detected in 5 of them (2.1%). All cases of OAG and GS in the case group were classified as stage 3 or higher of No symptoms or signs, Only signs no symptoms, Soft tissue, Proptosis, Extraocular muscle, Cornea, Sight loss. Active GO was only more prevalent in patients with OHT (P<0.001). The prevalence of OHT was higher in cases with GO than age and sex-matched controls. Ophthalmologic examinations including intraocular pressure measurement (and if needed automated visual fields) should be regularly performed in patients with GO particularly in higher stages and those with active disease.

The prevalence of open-angle glaucoma among blacks and whites 73 years and older: the Salisbury Eye Evaluation Glaucoma Study.

To determine the prevalence of glaucoma among black and white persons 73 years and older. Participants in the fourth round of a population-based study, the Salisbury Eye Evaluation, were examined. The main outcome measure was glaucoma, based on optic nerve damage and visual field loss or obvious glaucomatous optic neuropathy without an available, reliable, reproducible visual field. A total of 1250 individuals (95.9% of those eligible) participated, 1233 (98.6%) of whom agreed to screening and an eye examination. The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of open-angle glaucoma was 3.4% (0.5%-6.4%) for white individuals aged 73 and 74 years, increasing to 9.4% (7.4%-11.5%) for those 75 years and older. There was no increasing prevalence in those older than 75 years. Among black persons, the prevalence (95% confidence interval) was 5.7% (0%-11.9%) in those aged 73 and 74 years and 23.2% (17.8%-28.5%) in those 75 years and older. Many older individuals have open-angle glaucoma, and black persons 75 years and older have substantially higher rates than whites. These findings have important implications for public health initiatives, in which screening programs may be of benefit.

Variations in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Prevalence by Age, Gender, and Race: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis

To quantify the variation in primary open-angle glaucoma (OAG) prevalence with age, gender, race, year of publication, and survey methodology. Medline, EMBASE, and PubMed were searched for studies of OAG prevalence. Studies with defined population samplings were sought. Forty-six published observational studies of OAG prevalence (103,567 participants with 2509 cases of OAG) were identified for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Data on the number of people and the number of cases of OAG by age, race, and gender were sought for each study. Additional information was obtained regarding whether the definition of glaucoma relied on raised intraocular pressure (IOP) and whether visual field examination was performed routinely on all individuals. Bayesian meta-analysis was used to model the associations between the log odds of OAG and age, race, gender, year of publication, method of visual field testing, and effect of reliance on IOP in the definition of OAG. Black populations had the highest OAG prevalence at all ages, but the proportional increase in prevalence of OAG with age was highest in white populations. The odds ratio per decade increase in age was 2.05 in white populations (95% credible interval, 1.91 to 2.18), 1.61 (95% credible interval, 1.53 to 1.70) in black populations, and 1.57 (95% credible interval, 1.46 to 1.68) in Asian populations. The average estimated prevalence in those older than 70 years of age was 6% in white populations, 16% in black populations, and 3% in Asian populations. After adjusting for age, race, year of publication, and survey methods, men were 1.37 (95% credible interval, 1.22 to 1.53) times more likely than women to have OAG. The prevalence of OAG was one third lower in studies in which routine visual fields were not assessed and that used an IOP criterion in the definition of glaucoma; this effect was reduced to the null after adjustment for age, racial group, and year of publication. Although black populations had the highest prevalence of OAG at all ages, white populations showed the steepest increase in OAG prevalence with age. Men were more likely than women to have OAG.

High frequency of open-angle glaucoma in Japanese patients with Alzheimer's disease

The clinical and genetic relationships between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and glaucoma remain obscure. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in patients with AD and whether the apolipoprotein E ( APOE) 4 allele is associated with AD, with or without OAG, in Japanese. The groups consisted of 172 patients with the diagnostic criteria of AD and 176 age-matched controls. Ophthalmic examinations were conducted, and genomic analysis was performed by PCR and digestion of products with an enzyme. OAG was found in 41 (23.8%) of the AD patients, which was a significantly ( p = 0.0002) higher prevalence than that in the controls (9.9%). Furthermore, there was no significant difference between intraocular pressures (IOPs) in AD patients with OAG and without OAG. The percentage of AD patients who carried an APOE ε4 allele (29.5%) was significantly ( p = 0.0007) higher than that of the controls (9.1%). However, the percentage of AD patients with OAG who carried an APOE ε4 allele (35.7%) was not significantly different than that of AD patients without OAG (27.7%, p = 0.42). In summary, the prevalence of OAG is high in Japanese patients with AD, suggesting that common factors other than APOE may contribute to the two diseases.