Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
13:47
Laser Capture Microdissection of Highly Pure Trabecular Meshwork from Mouse Eyes for Gene Expression Analysis
Published on: June 3, 2018
Association Between Systemic Comorbidity Burden and Glaucoma Progression: A 5-Year Cohort Study.
Melody Y Zhou1, Hayden Reed2, Rishi P Singh3,4,5
1Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Journal of Glaucoma
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Higher comorbidity burden, measured by the age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (age-CCI), increases glaucoma progression risk. This finding supports integrating systemic health assessments into glaucoma management strategies for better risk stratification.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Glaucoma progression is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
- Systemic health comorbidities are increasingly recognized as potential risk factors influencing ocular disease outcomes.
- The age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (age-CCI) is a validated measure of overall health burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between higher comorbidity burden, quantified by the age-CCI, and the odds of glaucoma progression over a five-year period.
- To determine if the age-CCI can serve as a tool for stratifying glaucoma progression risk.
- To explore potential differential effects of comorbidity burden on glaucoma progression based on disease severity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 11,863 adult patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, preglaucoma, or ocular hypertension.
- Age-CCI scores were calculated using ICD-10 diagnoses.
- Multivariate logistic regression analyzed the association between age-CCI and glaucoma progression, adjusting for covariates, with stratification by disease stage and comorbidity tertiles.
Main Results:
- Each one-point increase in age-CCI correlated with a 6% increased odds of progression from early to moderate-stage glaucoma (OR=1.06) and a 9% increase in odds of progression to severe-stage (OR=1.09).
- Associations between age-CCI and progression varied by disease stage and comorbidity burden tertile.
- Male sex, Black race, public insurance, ophthalmic procedure history, and increased medication use were also linked to higher progression odds.
Conclusions:
- Elevated age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index scores are significantly associated with increased glaucoma progression.
- The impact of comorbidity burden on glaucoma progression differs based on the disease's current stage and the patient's overall health status.
- The age-CCI demonstrates utility as a practical tool for enhancing glaucoma risk stratification and guiding management decisions.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Glaucoma: 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...
01:27Open 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...
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
01:28Angle 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...
01:29Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) refers to a potentially life-threatening rise in pressure inside the skull. This usually happens when there is a major change in the volume of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the three components inside the skull. According to the Monro-Kellie doctrine, if the volume of one component increases, the volumes of the other components must decrease to maintain normal pressure. If this does not happen, ICP rises.The process often begins with...
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy
DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...