Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Laser Capture Microdissection of Highly Pure Trabecular Meshwork from Mouse Eyes for Gene Expression Analysis
13:47

Laser Capture Microdissection of Highly Pure Trabecular Meshwork from Mouse Eyes for Gene Expression Analysis

Published on: June 3, 2018

9.4K

Early Life Body Size Trajectory and the Risk of Primary Open-angle Glaucoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Jianqi Chen1, Yuyao Ling1, Yingting Zhu1

  • 1From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China.

American Journal of Ophthalmology
|August 8, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Low adult body size increases primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) risk. Maintaining a healthy weight throughout life, especially avoiding significant weight loss, is crucial for reducing POAG burden and preventing blindness.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
  • Existing research on the association between body mass index (BMI) and POAG yields inconsistent findings.
  • Limited studies have explored the impact of early life body size trajectories on POAG risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between early life body size trajectories and the risk of developing primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
  • To examine the relationship between adult body size and POAG incidence.
  • To determine the influence of body size changes from childhood to adulthood on POAG risk.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective cohort study utilizing data from 467,768 participants in the UK Biobank.
  • Body size in childhood was categorized as low, average, or high relative to peers.
  • Adult body size was assessed using BMI residuals, and nine distinct early life body size trajectories were defined. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to analyze POAG risk.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with body size trajectories ending in low adult body size exhibited an elevated risk of POAG (e.g., low-low: HR=1.35, P<.001).
  • Low body size in adulthood was consistently associated with increased POAG risk (HR=1.30, P<.001).
  • High body size in adulthood was linked to a reduced POAG risk (HR=0.86, P=.037), while high childhood body size showed a slight increase in risk (HR=1.14, P=.046).
  • Among individuals with low childhood body size, achieving average or high adult body size was associated with reduced POAG risk.
  • Substantial weight loss to a low adult body size from a high childhood body size significantly increased POAG risk (HR=1.66, P=.003).

Conclusions:

  • Low adult body size is a significant risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma.
  • Avoiding excessive weight loss, particularly from childhood to adulthood, appears critical for mitigating POAG risk.
  • These findings highlight the importance of weight management throughout life for preventing POAG and its associated vision loss.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Assessing Early Stage Open-Angle Glaucoma in Patients by Isolated-Check Visual Evoked Potential07:11

Assessing Early Stage Open-Angle Glaucoma in Patients by Isolated-Check Visual Evoked Potential

Published on: May 25, 2020

6.5K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression04:36

Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression

Published on: January 12, 2024

1.2K

Related Concept Videos

Glaucoma: Overview01:25

Glaucoma: Overview

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
755
Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment01:27

Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment

In open-angle glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork becomes stiff, slowing down the outflow of aqueous humor. This causes a buildup of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber, leading to a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. The treatment for open-angle glaucoma focuses on reducing the elevated intraocular pressure by either decreasing the secretion of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow.
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
568
Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment01:28

Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment

Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
681
Longitudinal Research02:20

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
12.5K