Stiff arteries can predict risk for glaucoma
Key Takeaways
- Arterial stiffness increases the risk for developing glaucoma, a new study found.
- The results suggest that a simple test for measuring arterial stiffness could be used as a tool to help identify individuals at risk for glaucoma.
Glaucoma has traditionally been explained by the mechanical theory, which recognizes that an increase in pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure, IOP) can cause irreversible damage to the nerve cells that form the optic nerve. This theory, however, cannot explain all glaucoma cases, particularly those in which IOP is normal. Another theory posits that at least some glaucoma may result from damage to the optic nerve caused by low or fluctuating blood flow in the eye, but the mechanisms are not well understood. It has further been hypothesized that changes in ocular blood flow may stem from increased arterial stiffness, i.e., rigidity in the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. However, previous studies have had mixed results.
To study the link between arterial stiffness and glaucoma, researchers from the University of Auckland evaluated 4713 individuals without glaucoma at baseline and assessed the stiffness in their arteries. They then identified which individuals went on to develop glaucoma based on prescriptions for eye drops or hospital records. Overall, 301 people in the study developed glaucoma over a mean follow-up period of 10.5 years.
The researchers found that arterial stiffness predicted the development of glaucoma. Higher arterial stiffness was associated with an increased risk of developing glaucoma. The researchers conclude that “Arterial stiffness…which can be easily and accurately measured, could be used as a tool in clinical practice [as part of routine blood pressure measurement] to help identify people at risk of glaucoma and as a therapeutic target to prevent glaucoma progression.”
Edited by Miriam Kaplan, PhD
Sources:
Poonam Patil, Medscape Medical News, June 4, 2024; see source article
Angela Beros et al, “Arterial stiffness and incident glaucoma: a large population-based cohort study.” American Journal of Ophthalmology, May 14, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2024.05.015