• Genes and health
• Conditions we cover
• Exfoliation Glaucoma
• Complete scan
• Cancer scan
• Cardio scan
• Advanced features

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the world and is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness.

Genetic factors are known to contribute considerably to the development of glaucoma.

Early diagnosis and management of the fluid pressure within in the eye may prevent blindness.

Glaucoma – a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight

Exfoliation Glaucoma occurs when the fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises to abnormal levels because of insufficient recirculation of the fluid of the eye. In glaucoma, deterioration of the optic nerve leads to progressive loss of the field of vision. Open Angle Glaucoma (OAG), which is characterized by painless loss of vision, constitutes the majority of glaucoma cases. OAG may be divided into Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) and Secondary Glaucoma (SG). POAG is without an identifiable cause of resistance to eye fluid recirculation, whereas in SG the outflow resistance is of a known cause. The most common cause of SG is exfoliation glaucoma that may be responsible for 10 to 30% of all glaucoma, depending on the population.

The leading cause of preventable blindness

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the world and is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness. It affects over 60 million people worldwide. Early diagnosis before optic nerve damage, and management of the fluid pressure within in the eye with medication or other treatments may prevent blindness.

Known genetic variants increase the risk of exfoliation glaucoma

Genetic factors are known to contribute considerably to the development of glaucoma. Two sequence variants in a gene called LOXL1 have been found to increase the risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma. The effect is thought to be caused by exfoliation syndrome, which is characterized by accumulation of abnormal deposits on surfaces in the front part of the eye.

deCODEme can calculate your genetic risk of exfoliation glaucoma

The deCODEme Complete Scan identifies variants in the LOXL1 gene and provides interpretation of their associated risk for developing exfoliation glaucoma in customers of European descent. Currently no data are available for people of other ethnicities for the variants listed above.

Risk factors for exfoliation glaucoma

Age, ethnicity and family history are the most important risk factors in the development of glaucoma.

• Age: Glaucoma most commonly affects people over 60 years of age but can begin as early as 30 or 40 years of age.
• Ethnicity. Glaucoma is five times more likely to occur among African Americans than Caucasians and about four times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans compared with Caucasians. Additionally, glaucoma is about 15 times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans between the ages of 45-64 than in Caucasians of the same age group.
• Hypertension. A number of studies also suggest that there is a correlation between glaucoma and high blood pressure.
• Family history/Genetics. Men who have one relative with glaucoma are twice as likely to develop the disease, while those with two or more relatives are nearly four times more likely to be diagnosed. This suggests that genetic risk variants play a significant role in the risk of developing the disease.

Early diagnosis is most important

Most people who become blind from glaucoma are already blind on at least one eye by the time of diagnosis, which emphasizes the need for increased awareness and early diagnosis. Studies have shown that the early detection and treatment of glaucoma, before it causes major vision loss, is the best way to control the disease.

High-risk individuals should have regular eye exams

Individuals who may be at high risk for glaucoma include African Americans over age 40; everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans; and people with a family history of the disease. These individuals should have a comprehensive eye exam at least once every two years according to recommendations by the National Eye Institute (NEI). Lowering eye pressure in glaucoma’s early stages slows progression of the disease and helps preserve vision.

Preventive treatments are available

A comprehensive eye exam can also reveal other associated eye abnormalities that can increase the risk of glaucoma, such as high eye pressure, thinness of the cornea, and abnormal optic nerve anatomy. In some people with certain combinations of these high-risk factors, eye drops reduce the risk of developing glaucoma by about half. Additional therapies such as laser treatments may be beneficial, especially for the exfoliation form of glaucoma.

More information

You can find out more information about glaucoma by talking with your doctor and visiting these Web sites:

• The American Glaucoma Society
• The Glaucoma Foundation
• National Eye Institute
• Medline Plus Article on Glaucoma

This content was last reviewed on February 08, 2010.

The conditions we cover: ABO Blood Types, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Age Related Macular Degeneration, Alcohol Flush Reaction, Alzheimer’s Disease, Asthma, Atrial Fibrillation, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Bitter Taste Perception, Bladder Cancer, Brain Aneurysm, Brain Cancer-Glioma, Breast Cancer, Celiac Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Colorectal Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Essential Tremor, Exfoliation Glaucoma, Eye Color, Gallstones, Gout, Heart Attack, Hemochromatosis, Hypertension, Kidney Stones, Lactose Intolerance, Lung Cancer, Male Pattern Baldness, Multiple Sclerosis, Nicotine Dependence, Obesity, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Prostate Cancer, Psoriasis, Restless Legs Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Statin Induced Myopathy, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Testicular Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Ulcerative Colitis, Venous Thromboembolism, Warfarin Metabolism.