Articles about Eye Health and Disease from 2005


Brothers and Sisters of Glaucoma Patients are at High Risk for the Disease

(From the British Journal of Ophthalmology, Vernon et al, January 2006; 90:59-63.)

A recent study indicates that brothers and sisters of patients with proven chronic open angle glaucoma have about a 20% chance of developing the disease by the time they reach age 70, according to results of the Nottingham Family Glaucoma Screening Study.  That risk is about 5 times the risk of the whole population of similar age.

In this study, 271 siblings (average age 63) of of 156 glaucoma patients underwent ophthalmic examinations between 1994 and 2003.

• Of those examined, thirty two siblings (11.8%) were classified as having definite glaucoma.

• 15 siblings (5.5%) were classified as having suspected glaucoma.

In a follow up phase of the study, 157 of the 224 siblings with normal eyesight were reexamined a mean of 7 years from the initial exam, at which time 11 (7%) were classified as having definite glaucoma and 30 (19.1%) as having suspected glaucoma.

The study investigators noted that in the current study over 50% of the siblings found to be positive for glaucoma had been tested by a community optometrist and found to be negative within a year of detection by the hospital.  Thus, having a "normal" eye examination by a community optometrist does not preclude a diagnosis of glaucoma being made within one year of the optometrist's examination.

The study investigators suggested that formal screening for open angle glaucoma should be considered in siblings of known glaucoma patients and this should occur at regular intervals, for example every two years from the age of 50.




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