Open-angle glaucoma in Filipino and white Americans: a comparative study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
• Understanding ethnic variations in OAG subtypes is crucial for targeted screening and treatment strategies.
• Filipino Americans represent a significant and growing demographic in the United States.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the frequency of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) subtypes between Filipino and white Americans.
• To investigate ethnic differences in the prevalence of normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) within a general ophthalmology clinic population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional epidemiologic study with prospective sampling.
• Analysis of medical charts from 1113 patients (513 Filipinos, 600 whites) aged 40+.
• Glaucoma diagnosis based on optic nerve appearance, visual field defects, and ISGEO criteria; NTG defined by intraocular pressure ≤21 mm Hg.

Main Results:

• Filipinos showed a higher proportion of NTG (46.7%) compared to whites (26.8%) (P=0.02).
• OAG and NTG were diagnosed more frequently in Filipinos (11.9% and 6.8%) than in whites (8.2% and 2.5%) respectively (P=0.04, P=0.001).
• No significant difference in central corneal thickness was observed between Filipino and white subjects with NTG.

Conclusions:

• Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and its normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) subtype appear to be more common in Filipino Americans than in white Americans.
• The propensity for NTG is notably higher in Filipino Americans compared to white Americans.
• These findings underscore the importance of considering ethnicity in glaucoma screening and management.