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Published on: June 3, 2018
Correlated or not: Glaucoma prevalence and modern industrialization
Lijun Wang1, Xiulan Zhang, Shuping Cai
1Ophthalmic Laboratories and Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 1, 4th Keyuan Road, Gaopeng Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, PR China.
Medical Hypotheses
|December 1, 2010
Summary
The prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is increasing in East Asian populations, potentially linked to environmental changes and rising myopia. This suggests POAG may become more common in these groups in the future.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Genetics
Background:
- Glaucoma prevalence varies significantly by ethnicity, with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) common in East Asians and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) prevalent in Black and Caucasian populations.
- Recent trends show increasing POAG incidence in Chinese populations, with higher urban prevalence, suggesting environmental influences beyond genetics.
- Eye structure changes, including increased myopia, are linked to modern lifestyles and may contribute to glaucoma pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential correlation between increasing myopia, environmental factors associated with industrialization and urbanization, and the changing prevalence of glaucoma, particularly POAG, in East Asian populations.
- To explore the hypothesis that myopia is a significant risk factor for POAG development.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing epidemiological data on glaucoma prevalence across different ethnic groups.
- Analysis of environmental factors, including industrialization, urbanization, and educational demands, and their impact on eye structure.
- Examination of the role of myopia as an independent risk factor for glaucomatous optic nerve damage.
Main Results:
- Historically, PACG was more prevalent in East Asians, while POAG was more common in Caucasians and Black individuals.
- The incidence of POAG in Chinese populations has risen to levels comparable to Western countries, with higher rates in urban areas.
- Myopic eyes exhibit increased susceptibility to intraocular pressure-induced stress due to structural differences like thinner lamina cribrosa and larger scleral canals.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors, driven by industrialization and urbanization, appear to be influencing glaucoma prevalence, leading to an increase in POAG among East Asian populations.
- Myopia is identified as a critical independent risk factor for POAG, increasing susceptibility to optic nerve damage.
- It is hypothesized that POAG may become more prevalent in East Asian descendants in the future due to the rising rates of myopia.
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