Epidemiology of Glaucoma (M)

Question 1

What is the prevalence of glaucoma in people of hispanic heritage relative to african americans? 1. What is the study that showed this? 2

Answer 1

1. the same

2. LALES

Question 2

Do African Americans respond to treatment better or worse than caucasians? 1. Do they have a lessened or greater risk of blindness? 2

Answer 2

1. worse

2. greater risk

Question 3

What percent of glaucoma in the US is of the angle closure variety? 1. What percentage of glaucoma blindness does this account for? 2

Answer 3

1. 50%

2. 90%

Question 4

Which factor along with a family history of glaucoma make for an especially high risk?

Answer 4

ocular hypertension

Question 5

What is hypertensions role in the risk of developing glaucoma?

Answer 5

not risk factor for glaucoma progression but treatment of HTN may create risk (hypotensive episodes that dec ONH blood flow)

Question 6

What percentage of people that have pressures over 21mmHg in the US end up getting glaucoma?

Answer 6

10%

Question 7

What percent of glaucoma in the US is of the open angle variety?

Answer 7

70%

Question 8

What is the link between gender and glaucoma?

Answer 8

No strong evidence but women shown to have higher IOP and IOP rise with age

Question 9

What are possible explanations for why african americans have a higher prevalence of glaucoma?

Answer 9

1. thinner corneas

2. larger optic nerves

Question 10

What is considered the “starting age” of increased risk of glaucoma?

Answer 10

40

Question 11

What are considered the greatest risk factors for glaucoma blindness?

Answer 11

1. African heritage
2. advanced field loss at time of diagnosis
3. clinical non-compliance

Question 12

What type of glaucoma is more linked to asian heritage? 1. What anatomical feature of their eyes is a possible cause/risk factor? 2

Answer 12

1. angle closure

2. smaller eye size

Question 13

What type of glaucoma is more impacted by age? 1. Why? 2. What patients is this especially the case for? 3

Answer 13

1. angle closure glaucoma
2. lens grows and pushes against iris, narrowing the anterior chamber
3. hyperopes with already dec axial length and shallower chambers

Question 14

How much higher is the prevalence of POAG for african americans than caucasians?

Answer 14

4.3 times

Question 15

What is a central vasospasm called? 1. Peripheral vasospasm? 2. What is the link between these and glaucoma? 3

Answer 15

1. migraine
2. Raynaud’s disease
3. some normal tension link with vasospasms. Migraines have significant inc in risk factor for progression of normal tension glaucoma

Question 16

What type of glaucoma is more linked to african americans? 1. What is the relative timing of the disease for AA’s? 2

Answer 16

1. OAG

2. develop disease earlier and have longer

Question 17

What is the prevalence of glaucoma for people with family history of the disease compared to general public? 1. What is the order for relation to family members from highest to lowest risk? 2

Answer 17

1. 3 to 6 times (some say 10)

2. siblings, parents, grandparents (stronger in maternal bloodline)

Question 18

What is the relative risk of glaucoma for patients with diabetes compared to normal? 1. Why? 2

Answer 18

1. 1.6 to 4.7 times greater

2. IOP higher and microvascular damage decreases ONH perfusion

Question 19

What is the most cited mutation that runs in families that is linked to glaucoma risk? 1. What does it do? 2

Answer 19

1. myocilin gene

2. abnormal myocilin found in TM, lamina cribosa, and optic nerve

Question 20

What is any aspect of a person’s behavior, lifestyle, or genetic predisposition that is associated with a health-related condition called?

Answer 20

risk factor

Question 21

When IOP is elevated, is perfusion pressure to the optic nerve increased or decreased?

Answer 21

decreased

Question 22

What are the types of primary glaucomas?

Answer 22

1. primary open angle glaucoma (POAG)

2. primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG)