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Updated
July 28, 2018 16:04:51
Australian researchers are studying glaucoma and discovering new genetic markers that increase the risk of developing destructive eye disease.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world and affects approximately 300,000 Australians.
The study of more than 134,000 Australians and the world revealed 101 genetic markers influencing ocular fluid pressure (intraocular pressure) Researchers found that 53 genetic markers directly increase the risk of developing glaucoma , especially advanced glaucoma that tends to cause blindness.
Professor Alex Hewitt, ophthalmologist and medical researcher at the Menzies Institute of the University of Tasmania for medical research, said the study showed that people with a large number of genetic markers had an almost six times increased risk of d "About two in three people with glaucoma have high pressure in the eye," says Professor Hewitt.
"A simple way to conceptualize glaucoma is that the pressure on the forehead part of the eye exerts pressure on the back part of the eye, which damages the nerve at the back from the eye. "
" One more step to prevent people from becoming blind "
People with glaucoma usually lose their peripheral vision and it can be difficult for them to notice the disease at its beginnings.
There is no predictive test for glaucoma currently available.
"It's usually a gradual loss of this peripheral vision that sneaks on you, from where glaucoma. "Our new research will improve our ability to identify people at risk of developing glaucoma."
"And this brings us closer to a preventative treatment could prevent people from going"
If detected early, the progression of vision loss may be slowed down, but experts believe that half of people with glaucoma are undiagnosed.
The results should lead to better screening, which would probably begin when people reach middle age.
Professor Hewitt said that the ability to profile people on a genetic basis would show "who needs a rigorous screening
" I do not think we're very far from being able to do that ", he said.
"And, exciting, next year, we will start a large program grant that is funded Through the National Board of Health and Medical Research, we will really be able to build a foundation factual basis for these genetic tests in the rational screening for glaucoma.
In the longer term, the work could also lead to better drug treatments.
"This means we can identify new therapeutic targets for glaucoma," he said.
"It will be a great help for the sick"
Helen McNeice, who has been suffering from glaucoma for 25 years, has undergone several eye surgeries.
Glaucoma is rampant in his family.
"My mother had it, my grandmother had it, my aunt had it and we think my dad had it too, my sister has it" , did she say.
Mrs. McNeice had periods between surgeries not being able to drive
"It takes away your independence, you can not drive, I could not see the newspaper, magazines," she says. .
"I could not see to pay the bills, people do not really understand how it affects you."
Ms. McNeice praised the results of the research.
"I think it will be wonderful if they can do it for other people," she said.
"I know it's not going to help me, but it's going to help a lot of other people who need something and I think it will be great."
Tasmania began studying the Glaucoma Inheritance Tasmania study in the 1990s and recent work is the largest genetic study on glaucoma.
It was conducted by the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Queensland in collaboration with the Menzies Institute and the Flinders Center for Ophthalmology. in South Australia.
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Published
July 28, 2018 11:32:59
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