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Latinos have high incidence of open-angle glaucoma
The incidence of open-angle glaucoma is increasingly higher in Latinos than in non-Hispanic whites, according to a study.
An arm of the population-based longitudinal Los Angeles Latino Eye Study involved 3,939 self-identified Latinos, who were defined as individuals born into or descended from a Spanish-speaking community, regardless of race. All patients were aged 40 years or older.
Incident open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and incident ocular hypertension (OHT) were evaluated at a 4-year follow-up. At baseline and follow-up, visual field testing, IOP and stereoscopic fundus photography were recorded.
Incident OAG was defined as the presence of an open angle and a glaucomatous visual field abnormality or evidence of glaucomatous optic disc damage. Incident OHT was defined as IOP higher than 21 mm Hg with abnormal visual field results or the absence of optic disc damage.
At the 4-year follow-up, incident OAG was identified in 87 people (2.3%), and incident OHT was identified in 124 people (3.5%).
Subjects with OAG in one eye were five times more likely to develop it in the fellow eye. Subjects with OHT in one eye were 10 times more likely to develop it in the fellow eye.
“In the United States, with the aging of the Latino population and its rapid growth, it is imperative to establish appropriate public health care strategies and effective clinical intervention in this and similar populations,” the study authors said.