Introduction

Although the most important identified risk factor for open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is elevated intraocular pressure, a number of other factors, including ethnicity and systemic conditions, may come into play. Ethnicity has proved a potent risk factor, with blacks having a higher risk for OAG and developing more severe optic neuropathy than whites. More recently, research into the Hispanic-American population has shown a high rate of OAG (4.7%) among Latinos.^[1] Based in part on reduced ocular blood flow, researchers suspect that cardiovascular diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, may also play a role. Prior population-based studies, however, have found variable results when assessing an association between diabetes and OAG.^[2,3] Now, the authors of the large, population-based Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES) have sought to determine whether there is an association between type 2 diabetes and OAG in Latinos.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Risk of Open-Angle Glaucoma -- The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study

Chopra V, Varma R, Francis BA, Wu J, Torres M, Azen SP
Ophthalmology. 2008;115:227-232

Summary

Patients in LALES were diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes if they were over 30 years of age when the diagnosis was made and if they had either a random blood sugar > 200 mg/L or glycosylated hemoglobin of 7% or higher.

Of the 5894 participants in the cross-sectional study, 1157 had type 2 diabetes and 288 had OAG. The prevalence of OAG was 40% higher in those with type 2 diabetes, compared with those without diabetes, and a longer duration of diabetes was associated with a higher rate of OAG.

Comment

The authors noted that this report marks the first of an association between type 2 diabetes and OAG. They speculate that the conflicting results may be due to the presence of different ethnicities and races in the study groups. The study's importance lies in the high prevalence of diabetes and OAG observed in the Latino population. As this group ages, both conditions have the potential to worsen and threaten vision, with extensive public health consequences.

Abstract