Longitudinal glaucoma screening for siblings of patients with primary open angle glaucoma: the Nottingham Family Glaucoma Screening Study

Abstract

Aims: To assess the prevalence and cumulative incidence of open angle glaucoma (OAG) in a cohort group of siblings of OAG probands. Methods: Between 1994 and 2003, a group of siblings of OAG probands underwent both initial and follow up standardised ophthalmic examinations. Siblings were classified as ''definite glaucoma'' (primary OAG (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG)), ''glaucoma suspects'' (NTG suspects or ocular hypertension (OHT)), and normal. The prevalence and cumulative incidence of OAG over the follow up interval were calculated. Results: At the initial study, 271 siblings (mean age 63.6 years; female to male ratio 1.2) from 156 probands were examined. 32 (11.8%) were classified as definite glaucoma and 15 (5.5%) as suspects. In the follow up study, 157 of the 224 ''normal'' siblings from the initial study were examined (mean interval from initial study 7.0 (SD 1.0) years). 11 (7%) were classified as definite glaucoma and 30 (19.1%) as suspects. There were significant trends of increasing prevalence and incidence of OAG with age and a lifetime risk estimated at approximately 20% by age 70. Conclusion: Siblings of glaucoma patients have an increased risk of developing glaucoma and the risk increases with age. An effective and repeated screening programme should be considered for this high risk group.

Prevalence and determinants of glaucoma in citizens of Qatar aged 40 years or older: A community-based survey

“…Further investigation is required to verify our results prior to interpreting the association of nationality to glaucoma. Racial differences are observed in glaucoma and familial as well as genetic etiologies have been proposed for different types of glaucoma 3132. A high consanguinity rate in the Qatari population may be a factor in this higher prevalence of glaucoma 33…”

Baseline Fourier-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Structural Risk Factors for Visual Field Progression in the Advanced Imaging for Glaucoma Study

“…Photographic evidence of NFL defect 1 and evidence of disc rim defect 12 have also been recognized as risk factors for VF loss. 13,14 In a recent meta-analysis, 15 Ernest et al identified a list of recognized baseline prognostic factors for future VF loss, including disc hemorrhage (for normal tension glaucoma), VF loss, IOP and exfoliation syndrome, while a definitive association was not proven for other factors, such as family history. However, none of these risk factors by themselves are reliable predictors of glaucoma progression, and clinicians must consider all of them in glaucoma patient management.…”

The NEIGHBOR Consortium Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Genome-wide Association Study

“…A family history of glaucoma is a major risk factor for POAG, and the prevalence of POAG in first-degree relatives of affected patients is between 4 and 10 times that of the general population (4–7). The higher concordance of glaucoma among monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins is also consistent with a significant genetic predisposition (8, 9).…”