“Now we can understand how raised pressure leads to the damage of the neurons in the optic nerve.”
For African Americans, this new development toward a cure is especially critical. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in African Americans after cataracts. African Americans are 15 times more likely to be visually impaired from glaucoma than Caucasians. Studies show that African Americans are more geneticially at risk for developing glaucoma and the following risk factors can increase that risk:
- Over age 40
- Extreme nearsightedness
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Prolonged steroid use
Testing for glaucoma is specifically recommended for African Americans every one to two years beginning at age 35.
Dr. Quaggin and team are now working on developing eye drops that will trigger regrowth of the clogged Schlemms canal to ultimately cure glaucoma. “Just imagine if we could grow a bigger Schlemm’s canal in anybody with glaucoma to lower the pressure in the eye. That’s what we’re hoping for with this new eye drop.”
Is A Cure For Glaucoma In Sight? was originally published on blackdoctor.org
