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Large glaucoma screening shows association with myopia
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VIENNA, Austria — The risk of glaucoma development is associated with myopia, according to data from a large screening study. Further analysis of data from the screening will focus on quality-of-life and visual impairment issues, said one investigator speaking here.
Anders Heijl, MD, noted that the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial has already helped identify some risk factors for early glaucoma development as well as determining the benefits of therapy vs. no therapy for disease management. That trial was based on data from Sweden’s Malmo Eye Survey, which screened 44,000 subjects for glaucoma between 1992 and 1997 — making it the world’s largest screening, he said.
Data from that survey shows that the relationship between refractive error and glaucoma is very strong, Dr. Heijl said.
“Not only is glaucoma more common in myopes, but it is less common in hyperopes,” he said. “Every diopter seems to count.”
The study found no difference in mortality rates between those with or without glaucoma, so “we know that glaucoma is not a deadly disease,” he said.
Exfoliation syndrome is an IOP-independent risk factor for development of glaucoma in patients who already have ocular hypertension, Dr. Heijl added.
Continuing to follow these subjects will “answer the most important question of whether immediate treatment offers an advantage, which will in turn answer the question of whether there is a need for early screening and diagnosis,” he said.