Correlated or not: Glaucoma prevalence and modern industrialization

Prevalence of Normal-Tension Glaucoma in the Chinese Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

To investigate the prevalence of normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) in the Chinese population through systematic review and meta-analysis.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

All Chinese population-based studies that reported the prevalence of NTG were identified. We searched PubMed and Chinese databases including Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and VIP for studies published before December 31, 2017. Random effects meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence of NTG.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included in this review and meta-analysis, including 9 population-based studies and 3 studies from glaucoma clinics and managed care networks. The 9 population-based studies included a total of 30,892 subjects with 498 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and 354 patients with NTG. The prevalence of estimated NTG ranged from 0.36% to 1.98% and the percentage of NTG among POAG ranged from 51.43% to 83.58%. In the glaucoma clinic and managed care network studies, NTG prevalence was much lower. The overall pooled proportion of NTG among POAG in the Chinese population was 70.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 62.0-77.0%). The overall pooled prevalence of POAG and NTG was 2.0% (95% CI 1.0-2.0%) and 1.0% (95% CI 1.0-1.0%), respectively. For the meta-regression of the NTG/POAG proportion, we found that age, gender, intraocular pressure, and China versus not China were not significantly associated with NTG/POAG prevalence, although the proportional prevalence decreased with increasing age category.

CONCLUSIONS

In this systematic review, we found that NTG is common among patients with POAG in the Chinese population. Our findings can help guide future glaucoma studies and public health guidelines in the Chinese population.

A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Oral Microbiome and Dental Health in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate possible associations between primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), dental health, and the oral microbiome.

METHODS

Case-control study was conducted at SUNY Downstate. Adult subjects (40 to 87 y) were recruited as POAG cases (n=119) and controls without glaucoma (n=78) based on visual field and optic nerve criteria. Overall 74.6% were African Americans (AA). Information on medical history and oral health was collected and ophthalmologic examinations were performed. Mouthwash specimens (28 AA cases and 17 controls) were analyzed for bacterial DNA amounts. Analyses were limited to AAs as the predominant racial group. Outcome measures included number of natural teeth, self-reported periodontal health parameters, and amounts and prevalence of oral bacterial species. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associated factors and potential interactions.

RESULTS

Cases and controls had similar age (mean: 62.2 and 60.9 y, respectively, P>0.48), and frequency of hypertension, diabetes, but cases had a higher proportion of men (P<0.04). On average (±SD), cases had fewer natural teeth than controls [18.0 (±11.1) vs. 20.7 (±9.4)]. Having more natural teeth was inversely associated with POAG, in multivariable analyses, at older ages [eg, odds ratio (95% confidence interval) at age 55: 1.0 (0.95-1.06), P=0.98 vs. at age 85: 0.87 (0.79-0.96), P=0.007]. Amounts of Streptococci were higher in cases than controls (P<0.03) in samples from the subset of subjects analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of teeth (an oral health indicator) and alterations in the amounts of oral bacteria may be associated with glaucoma pathology. Further investigation of the association between dental health and glaucoma is warranted.

Predegenerated Schwann cells--a novel prospect for cell therapy for glaucoma: neuroprotection, neuroregeneration and neuroplasticity

Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy that leads to irreversible blindness. Because the current therapies are not sufficient to protect against glaucoma-induced visual impairment, new treatment approaches are necessary to prevent disease progression. Cell transplantation techniques are currently considered to be among the most promising opportunities for nervous system damage treatment. The beneficial effects of undifferentiated cells have been investigated in experimental models of glaucoma, however experiments were accompanied by various barriers, which would make putative treatment difficult or even impossible to apply in a clinical setting. The novel therapy proposed in our study creates conditions to eliminate some of the identified barriers described for precursor cells transplantation and allows us to observe direct neuroprotective and pro-regenerative effects in ongoing optic neuropathy without additional modifications to the transplanted cells. We demonstrated that the proposed novel Schwann cell therapy might be promising, effective and easy to apply, and is safer than the alternative cell therapies for the treatment of glaucoma.

A review of drug-induced acute angle closure glaucoma for non-ophthalmologists

Acute angle closure glaucoma is an ophthalmic emergency and can lead to blindness if left untreated. Several types of drugs have the potential to precipitate acute angle closure glaucoma. These include adrenergic, cholinergic and anticholinergic, antidepressants, anticoagulants and sulfa-based agents. This article provides a basic overview of the risk factors and pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in angle closure glaucoma and focuses on drug-induced angle closure glaucoma for the non-ophthalmologist. A PubMed search limited to the English language was conducted to find relevant literature for the purpose of this article. Most attacks occur in subjects unaware that they are at risk due to innately narrow iridocorneal angles. Clinicians should always review medications in patients presenting with symptoms of acute angle closure glaucoma. The aim of this article is to bring this ophthalmic condition to the attention of clinicians, particularly those outside the field of ophthalmology who commonly prescribe these medications or see these patients prior to referring to ophthalmologists.

Predictors for incidence of primary open-angle glaucoma in a South Indian population: the Chennai eye disease incidence study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the 6-year incidence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and its associated predictors.

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 4316 subjects without POAG at baseline who were 40 years of age and older from a south Indian population.

METHODS

Participants were examined at baseline and after a 6-year interval. Detailed ophthalmic examination included applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, pachymetry, optic disc evaluation, and automated perimetry. Glaucoma was defined using the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology Classification. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the baseline risk factors that could predict the incident POAG.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Six-year incidence of POAG and its associated risk factors.

RESULTS

In 6 years, incident POAG developed in 129 subjects (2.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-3.4; male-to-female ratio, 65:64). Baseline age was a risk factor. In reference to the group 40 to 49 years of age, the incidence increased from 2.3 (95% CI, 1.4-3.7) for the group 50 to 59 years of age to 3.5 (95% CI, 2.2-5.7) for the group 60 to 69 years of age (P<0.001). Other baseline risk predictors were urban residence (odds ratio [OR], 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.2; P = 0.01), higher intraocular pressure (IOP; OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.5-2.6 per 10 mmHg; P<0.001), myopia (OR, 1.7; 95%, CI, 1.1-2.5; P<0.001), and axial length (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.2 per millimeter; P = 0.03). Thinner corneas with higher IOP at baseline had the highest incidence of POAG. In 80% of the urban population and 100% of the rural population, incident glaucoma was previously undetected.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of this population demonstrated incident POAG. The baseline risk factors could help in identifying those at highest risk of disease.