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The worldwide prevalence of glaucoma is increasing (p 1711)
May 19, 2004Early diagnosis of glaucoma is essential to prevent irreversible visual impairment, according to a Seminar in this week's issue of THE LANCET.
Glaucoma is a group of disorders that progressively damage the optic nerve in the eye and without treatment can cause visual disability and eventual blindness. Glaucoma affects more than 66 million people worldwide and is the second leading cause of blindness. In the USA, health costs from glaucoma-related blindness have been estimated to be in excess of US $1.5billion a year, and the magnitude of the problem will increase as the population ages.
Robert N. Weinreb from the University of California San Diego, USA, and Peng Tee Khaw from the Moorfields Eye Hospital and Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK, address primary open-angle glaucoma, an age-related and insidious form of the disease.
Loss of vision from glaucoma can be limited by currently available therapies if the disease is identified in its early stages. However, most cases are not discovered until vision has already been permanently affected, because clinical signs of early glaucoma may be subtle, even to an eye specialist. Although the risk of developing glaucoma increases substantially with the level of pressure in the eye and increasing age, the authors note that measurement of this pressure alone is not an effective method for diagnosis. Assessments of the optic disc, retinal nerve fibre layer, and visual function provide complementary information and new imaging and psychophysical tests can improve both detection and monitoring of the progression of the disease.
Weinreb and Khaw conclude that examination of the optic nerve is an essential component of the adult eye assessment and is the most effective way to identify individuals with glaucoma. The authors stress "the importance of early diagnosis to initiate pressure-lowering treatment and early detection of progression to advance this treatment."
Lancet
Glaucoma Current Events and Glaucoma News RSSMelatonin may save eyesight in inflammatory disease
Current research suggests that melatonin therapy may help treat uveitis, a common inflammatory eye disease. The related report by Sande et al., "Therapeutic Effect of Melatonin in Experimental Uveitis," appears in the December issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
Eye conditions linked with obstructive sleep apnea
If a good night's sleep helps the brain and body perform better, it's a good guess that sleep problems can cause more than just fatigue. Numerous studies have shown a connection between sleep disorders and medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and metabolic disorders, including the risk of obesity and diabetes mellitus. In the November issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers outline several interesting associations between sleep disorders and eye disease.
Vision loss more common in people with diabetes
Visual impairment appears to be more common in people with diabetes than in those without the disease, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Medication slows progression of myopia in children
Daily treatment with a medication called pirenzepine can slow the rate of progressive myopia, or nearsightedness, in children, reports a study in the August issue of the Journal of AAPOS (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus).
Glaucoma procedure now available at Mayo Clinic aims to prevent further eye damage
For the first time in Florida, patients with glaucoma have a new treatment option known as the Trabectome.
Case Western Reserve and Penn State investigators inhibit corneal inflammation
Researchers from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Penn State Hershey College of Medicine identified a novel therapeutic that reduces sterile inflammation within the cornea.
Glaucoma report points to increased costs
A new Centre for Eye Research Australia/ Access Economics report shows the cost of glaucoma will more than double in the next two decades.
'Fluorescent' cells give early warning for eye disease
Scientists at the University of Michigan have shown that their new metabolic imaging instrument can accurately detect eye disease at a very early stage.
Role identified for glaucoma gene and related signaling pathway
Researchers have found that a gene and a related signaling pathway play a role in the development of glaucoma, which is a common cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide.
Cost of glaucoma medications may impact treatment
In the United States, the management of glaucoma costs about $2.5 billion per year. Of the $1.9 billion in direct costs, glaucoma medications account for an estimated 38% to 52% of the total.
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